Thursday 30 October 2014 07:44, UK
Madison Bumgarner was once again the star as San Francisco moved within one win of the World Series with a 5-0 shutout of Kansas City.
The big left-hander’s complete-game shutout – the first in the World Series in 11 years - gave the Giants a 3-2 win, allowing just four hits and striking out eight to put San Francisco on the brink in the best-of-seven series.
Bumgarner, 25, improved his career record in the World Series to 4-0 and lowered his World Series earned run average to a remarkable 0.29 - the lowest for any pitcher with at least 30 innings logged in the Fall Classic.
San Francisco's second straight victory gives them a chance to clinch the championship if they can win Game Six in Kansas City on Tuesday.
A triumph in either of the final two scheduled games would give San Francisco a third World Series championship in five years.
It was all made possible by the outstanding Bumgarner, who also frustrated the Royals in the series-opening win, and became the first pitcher to toss a complete-game shutout in the World Series since Josh Beckett in 2003.
The Giants took control in the second inning, scoring on a groundout from Brandon Crawford, who added RBIs in the fourth and the eighth as part of a productive night.
The home team then piled on three runs in the eighth, where Juan Perez hit a two-run double to send the AT&T Park crowd into a frenzy.
It was a memorable night for Bumgarner - the home crowd of 43,000 were chanting "M-V-P, M-V-P" to show their appreciation by the end.
"That was pretty cool, actually," Bumgarner said. "It was really neat to hear."
The Royals insist they are confident of levelling it up. "We're excited to get back home in front of our fans," said first baseman Eric Hosmer. "They give us a lot of energy. We feed off of them back home."
Royals manager Ned Yost admitted Bumgarner was the difference: "He was fantastic again.
"He commands his fastball in and out, up and down. He commands his breaking ball in and out. And he really can command that pitch down and away in the dirt when he wants to get a strikeout."
Royals hitter Billy Butler added: "We just got beat today. Bumgarner had a great day. He just physically went out there and beat us.
"It's tough, but now we get to go back home and win two. We've won two in a row before."
