Madison Bumgarner shines for Giants as Royals rumble Orioles in game two
San Francisco's left-hander pitches stunning innings to shut out St Louis in their play-off opener, taking the lead in their best-of-seven National League final series
Madison Bumgarner pitched seven and two-thirds sparkling innings to lead San Francisco to a 3-0 victory over St Louis in their Major League Baseball play-off series opener.
Bumgarner struck out seven, walked just one and the Giants took full advantage of defensive lapses by the Cardinals to take the lead in the best-of-seven National League final series.
The winner of the series will play either the Kansas City Royals or Baltimore Orioles in the World Series.
He was on top of his game. He executed all night against a tough line-up.
The Royals moved halfway to their first World Series since 1985 with a 6-4 victory, stretching their unbeaten October play-off run to six games.
As well as the win, Bumgarner found himself with a Major League Baseball record with 26 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings pitched in road play-off games.
He helped the Giants post their seventh straight postseason victory on the road.
"He was on top of his game," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "He executed all night against a tough line-up."
San Francisco slugger Pablo Sandoval went 3-for-4 at the plate with a walk and a run, while Giants' Brandon Belt and Travis Ishikawa drove in a run apiece.
Cardinals starting pitcher Adam Wainwright again struggled, allowing three runs - two earned - and surrendering six hits and three walks in four and two-thirds innings.
Wainwright, who was reported to be dealing with a sore elbow late in the season, has allowed nine runs in nine innings in these play-offs, although he insisted before the game that the elbow problem was "way overblown".
Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain drove in ninth-inning runs to provide the margin of victory as the Royals took a 2-0 lead in the American League final.
"Our team is very confident, but we have to go out and do it on the field," Cain said. "To be on this run is a lot of fun."
The Royals, who beat Oakland in the wildcard game and swept the Los Angeles Angels in the best-of-five division series, can move to the brink of the AL crown with a victory in game three on Monday at Kansas City. "If you can go home 2-0, that's as good as it gets," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "Going home 2-0 with our crowd, that's exciting."
