Bumgarner pitches in as Giants clinch thrilling World Series victory

The MLB season went down to the wire as the San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals in a tight game seven to clinch the World Series. Giants ace Madison Bumgarner came in on two days’ rest to pitch five scoreless innings in relief, earning the save - the longest in postseason history. Bumgarner, who was named the World Series MVP, said: “Fortunately I was able to get some quick innings and stay in there. Right now I’m not tired at all. We just won the World Series – it’s hard to be tired right now.” San Francisco were first to get on the board with two runs coming on sacrifice flies off a struggling Jeremy Guthrie in the second inning.

I was just thinking about getting outs until I couldn’t get them anymore.

Madison Bumgarner, Giants pitcher and World Series MVP

The lead did not last long, however, as Billy Butler and Alex Gordon levelled in the bottom of the same inning, with Giants manager Bruce Bochy pulling starter Tim Hudson after just 1.2 innings, the shortest start in a World Series decider since 1960. Jeremy Affeldt was the man entrusted with the ball, and he shut the Giants down for 2.1 innings. On the other side, Ned Yost pulled Jeremy Guthrie in the fourth inning, but not before he had allowed Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence to get on base. Kelvin Herrera came in to finish the inning, but designated hitter Michael Morse drove in Sandoval to give the Giants a 3-2 lead. With a narrow lead, Bochy turned to the safest arm in his army, Bumgarner. With two World Series wins to his credit already, including a complete game shutout in Game Five, Bumgarner gave up one hit and improved his career World Series ERA to a phenomenal 0.25 in 36 innings pitched to clinch victory.

He kept telling me ‘I’m ready to go,’ he said just put me in anytime and it couldn’t have worked out better.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy

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