The San Francisco Giants beat the Texas Rangers 4-0 on Sunday behind a superb performance by rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarner to move within one win of their first World Series title in 56 years.
The 21-year-old left-hander shut down the Rangers for eight innings on three hits, before closer Brian Wilson registered the last three outs to give the Giants a commanding 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Fall Classic.
Home runs by Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey provided the firepower for the Giants, now one step away from their first Major League Baseball championship since 1954 when they played in New York.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The Rangers called on a pair of former US presidents to help give them a jump-start, as George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush gathered at the mound for the ceremonial first pitch, but after the father-and-son team left the field to wild cheers from the Rangers Ballpark crowd, it was the pitching of San Francisco’s Bumgarner that provided the entertainment.
The youngest pitcher to start a World Series game since Fernando Valenzuela in 1981, Bumgarner dazzled the Rangers with his precision and variety.
An infield single in the fourth, and singles in the sixth and seventh innings were the only hits off the impressive rookie, who went 7-6 during the regular season.
PHOTO: AFP
“I just keep telling myself to relax,” said 1.96m hurler from North Carolina, who walked two and struck out six. “I’ve told myself so much that it’s starting to become second nature, and it makes it a lot easier on me and the players, I think, to see somebody that’s relaxed out there.”
Bumgarner’s performance left both managers impressed.
“I can’t say enough about what he did tonight, 21 years old on that stage,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy told reporters.
Texas manager Ron Washington said all he could do was tip his cap.
“He didn’t throw one pitch at the same speed and he moved the ball around,” Washington said. “The kid did a great job.”
A towering two-run homer deep down the right-field line by designated hitter Huff off Rangers starter Tommy Hunter in the third inning got the Giants all the runs they needed.
An RBI-double to center by Andres Torres in the seventh inning scored Edgar Renteria and rookie catcher Posey crushed a homer in the eighth to cap the scoring.
The Giants also shined on defense, with second baseman Freddy Sanchez making several brilliant stops and Cody Ross sliding to make a shoe-string catch in left field.
However, it was Bumgarner who won the accolades.
“He’s fearless,” home-run hitter Huff said. “He came to the yard today and you could see he was just chilling. He’s just a big 21-year-old kid out there with a funky delivery and attacks the zone.”
Game 5 of the World Series will see San Francisco sending Tim Lincecum to the mound against Cliff Lee of Texas in a rematch of Game 1, which the Giants won 11-7.
“We’ve got to figure out some ways to put some runs on the board against them,” Washington said.
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