Molina Gets Warm Welcome in SF Return

Oct. 28, 2010

BOX SCOREGIANTS POSTGAME VIDEOMLB PAGEMLB SCOREBOARD
SAN FRANCISCO(AP)San Francisco Giants fans finally got to say a proper goodbye to Bengie Molina.Molina got one of the loudest ovations during pregame introductions before Game 1 of the World Series on Wednesday night. It was his first game back in San Francisco since being traded to the Texas Rangers on July 1."I felt that very deep in my heart, it almost made me cry just to know that they appreciate me like that," Molina said. "I'm very thankful for the fans, I'm very thankful because I spent 3 12 years here and they respected me the way that they did, I very appreciate it. I just didn't want to cry because there were too many people here."The rest of the night didn't go as well for Molina as the Rangers lost the opener 11-7 to the Giants. Molina went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI.Molina joined Lonnie Smith as the only players to ever play for both World Series teams in the same season. Smith was traded by St. Louis to Kansas City on May 17, 1985, and won it all with the Royals. Molina got a warm ovation in pregame introductions.Molina got dealt to make room for rookie Buster Posey to take over behind the plate. He didn't know what kind of reaction he'd get now that he was on the opposing team."I'm wearing the wrong colors," he said. They're very protective on their other players and on their colors, so I didn't know what to expect. That's why it was probably very touching."