Bumgarner claims MVP honors in relief as Giants win third World Series in five seasons
Behind MadBum, Giants win third title in five years
This was it: World Series Game 7. Winner-take-all. The Royals, seeking their first title since 1985, against the Giants, seeking their third title in five seasons.
The starting pitchers Wednesday were San Francisco right-hander Tim Hudson and Kansas City right-hander Jeremy Guthrie, but given the all-hands-on-deck, do-or-die nature of the game, there was a very real chance that both managers would exercise a quick hook.
The Highlights
The teams didn't waste much time breaking out against Hudson and Guthrie. The Giants scored twice on sacrifice flies in the top of the second, the first courtesy of Michael Morse to score Pablo Sandoval:
Brandon Crawford made it 2-0 by lofting one to center to plate Hunter Pence:
KC came right back with a pair of runs of its own in the bottom of the second. Kauffman Stadium was rocking when Alex Gordon's double to right-center allowed Billy Butler(!) to score all the way from first(!):
With Omar Infante's sacrifice fly to center three batters later allowing Gordon to score, the Royals pulled even, 2-2:
Giants rookie second baseman Joe Panik made what might go down as the greatest defensive play of the series in the bottom of the third. His diving stop of Eric Hosmer's ground ball resulted in a double play after a replay review overturned the initial safe ruling at first:
The Giants managed to put runners on the corners with one out in the fourth when Kelvin Herrera came on in relief of Guthrie. While Herrera had been lights out throughout the postseason, he didn't have his best stuff against Morse, who sent a 99-mph fastball to right to bring Sandoval home. That gave the Giants a 3-2 lead, and would ultimately be the World Series-winning run:
Then the bullpens took over. For KC, that was Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland. For San Francisco, Affeldt (2 1/3 scoreless) and Madison Bumgarner (five scoreless).
The Royals -- and the Giants outfield -- made it interesting in the ninth. Gregor Blanco and Juan Perez misplayed Gordon's single, and Gordon ended up on third with two outs:
Bumgarner, though, locked it down, forcing Salvador Perez to pop out to third for the win:
Celebrating ensued:
DYNASTY. For the third time in five years, the @SFGiants are #WorldSeries champions! pic.twitter.com/kqhuRM4Tg2
- MLB (@MLB) October 30, 2014The Game Changer
As if his 16 innings of one-run ball in two Fall Classic starts wasn't enough, Bumgarner came out of the bullpen on two days rest to toss five shutout innings. He allowed two hits and struck out four batters to pick up the save -- a nice complement to his two previous wins in the series.
That lengthy relief performance solidified his status as World Series MVP and earned him a spot in the conversation of best postseason for a pitcher ever: six runs in 52 2/3 innings (1.03 ERA) with 45 strikeouts and six walks.
In the fifth, with the tying run on second, Bumgarner struck out Lorenzo Cain to end the inning and set a new record for innings pitched in one postseason:
Last guy to go 4+ shutout IP in a WS G7, pitching on two-days rest... Yup, Koufax.
- AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) October 30, 2014Other Key Players, Plays
The Royals flashed some leather, too. That included Mike Moustakas' diving stop in the first to take away a hit from Buster Posey:
KC very nearly came away with more than two runs in the second inning, but Crawford smoothly negotiated a force out on Nori Aoki's dangerous bouncer:
Significant: Panik needed a new belt after his fancy glovework:
Alcides Escobar ended the top of the seventh with a nifty play on Blanco's grounder, ranging to his right and throwing across his body:
Bumgarner will get all of the attention, but Affeldt's 2 1/3 scoreless deserves a tip of the cap. It was enough for him to pick up the win:
What's Next?
Nothingness. Darkness. Winter.
Just kidding. First we've got the Hot Stove, then Spring Training. And then, we get to do this whole thing again.