For the third time in five years, the San Francisco Giants are once again World Series Champions after beating the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night by the score of 3-2 in an intense game seven. Everything was on the line for both teams as the final stage was set for the last game of the year for Major League Baseball with the winner taking home the crown. Each team played remarkable baseball but the Giants had the edge and won on the heels of their ace and MVP, Madison Bumgarner.
This moment says it all. #SFGTrilogy http://t.co/1acdhXkDgj
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) October 30, 2014
San Francisco got on the board first, scoring two runs in the top of the second inning. Pablo Sandoval led off and advanced to first base on a hit by pitch by Royals starter Jeremy Guthrie. Singles from Hunter Pence and Brandon Belt loaded the bases which set the table for sacrifice fly runs hit by Michael Morse and Brandon Crawford. Guthrie was able to limit the damage by striking out Juan Perez to end the inning but the Giants were able to jump ahead 2-0. It wouldn’t be long until Kansas City tied up the game. In the bottom of the second, Billy Butler hit a single to center off of Giants starter Tim Hudson who was the oldest pitcher at 39 years and 107 days to ever start a World Series Game 7. Immediately after the single and on the first pitch, Alex Gordon crushed a double to right-center field to score Butler all the way from first, making the score 2-1. Clearly shaken up in the heat of the moment, Hudson hit Salvador Perez on the top of the knee on another first pitch to put runners on first and second. Mike Moustakas was next to bat in a key moment for the Royals with no outs but could only get the runner to advance on a fly out to left field. Gordon would score next on a sacrifice fly by Omar Infante, tying the game 2-2. With two outs and Perez on first, Alcides Escobar hit a single to left field which was the end of the night for Hudson. In the most important start of his sixteen year career, Hudson was pulled from the game throwing only 1.2 innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. Jeremy Affeldt would get the call to pitch next and forced the final out of the inning, ending the rally and preserved the game tied at two.
The best defensive play of the night goes to Giants second baseman Joe Panik. In the bottom of the third inning with the game still tied, he started a pivotal double play which could have been the start of another rally for Kansas City. Lorenzo Cain was on first with no outs and Eric Hosmer hit a sharp ground ball towards second that looked good enough to get through until Panik dove to his right to stop it. He quickly tossed the ball with his glove to Crawford who tagged second and immediately threw to first base to get Hosmer out. Initially he was ruled safe but it was soon overturned after review and the double play was confirmed with Hosmer out by mere centimeters as he slid head first.
San Francisco would string together a rally of their own in the fourth, starting with a key single off the bat of Sandoval who went 3-3 on the night with two runs scored. Pence would also hit a single to put runners on first and second for Brandon Belt, who would fly out but advance Sandoval to third. Guthrie would be pulled from the game after throwing 3.1 innings, allowing four hits and three earned runs. Kelvin Herrera was called on to relieve Guthrie, but Morse delivered with a key single to right field scoring Sandoval to take the lead 3-2. Herrera settled down and got the final two outs of the inning and pitched well in his 2.2 innings of work, striking out four while allowing only three hits. Although Kansas City had their stellar bullpen rested and ready to go at any moment, the Giants had a weapon of their own by the name of Madison Bumgarner. On only two days rest, Bumgarner was called upon again in the bottom of the fifth inning and would not disappoint. The Royals were completely shut down by Bumgarner, recording only two more hits throughout the game.
His win was changed to a save, but his #WorldSeries numbers remain INCREDIBLE: http://t.co/MXbJuOyj00 #MvpADBUM pic.twitter.com/n43AceM7pV
— World Champs (@SFGiants) October 30, 2014
Kansas City would try to start another rally in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs, Gordon hit a single to center field as Gregor Blanco over ran the ball and couldn’t stop it on the bounce, causing it to go past him as it rolled towards the wall. Left fielder Juan Perez then bobbled the ball and Gordon was able to reach third on the throw. Salvador Perez would then pop out to Sandoval in foul territory to end the game and the threat, crowning the San Francisco Giants as World Series Champions.
Bumgarner cemented himself in history, throwing five more scoreless innings and winning the MVP of the series. His performance placed him amongst some of the greatest pitchers in postseason history. He ends the playoffs going 4-1 in 52.2 innings of work with 45 strikeouts and a 1.03 ERA. This is a prime example of just how dominant he was.
Madison Bumgarner’s 2014 #postseason: 4-1, 1 save, 52.2 IP, 6 BB, 45 Ks, 1.03 ERA. pic.twitter.com/V1kyrdQtXB
— MLB Stat of the Day (@MLBStatoftheDay) October 30, 2014
With the World Series now over, thus concludes the phenomenal season by the Kansas City Royals, who shocked the baseball nation while sweeping their way to the World Series and forcing a game seven. The Royals will now look to 2015 with hopes of returning to the Fall Classic with much unfinished business.
Congratulations to the San Francisco Giants on their sensational performance this postseason, entering the playoffs as the National League Wild Card team. With the 2014 World Series title, they have become a dynasty and one of the most successful teams in modern history.
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD! #SFGiants #ChampionsTogether pic.twitter.com/zOcrGqmX8l
— World Champs (@SFGiants) October 30, 2014
Photo Credit: Getty Images