Madison Bumgarner World Series MVP as San Francisco Giants defeat Kansas City Royals in game seven thriller
Sparked by a historic pitching performance from Madison Bumgarner on only two days’ rest, the San Francisco Giants captured their third World Series in five seasons by beating Kansas City 3-2 Wednesday.
The Giants won Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final 4-3, winning their eighth overall championship and following up 2010 and 2012 titles by taking a intense winners-take-all showdown that was dramatic to the last play.
Bumgarner, a 25-year-old left-hander who baffled Royals batters in winning games two and five, pitched five scoreless relief innings, striking out four while allowing only two hits and throwing 50 of his 68 pitches for strikes on career-low rest to earn unanimous Most Valuable Player honors.
I wasn’t thinking about innings or pitch count. I was just thinking about getting outs until I couldn’t get them any more
“I wasn’t thinking about innings or pitch count,” Bumgarner said. “I was just thinking about getting outs until I couldn’t get them any more.
“Right now I’m not tired at all,” he added. “We just won the World Series.”
Bumgarner, originally credited with the game-seven win before an official scorer’s change gave him only a save and Jeremy Affeldt the win, allowed only one run in 21 World Series innings with 17 strikeouts and only one walk.
“Truly incredible what he did,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “I just can’t believe what he accomplished.”
