The San Francisco Giants are now one win away from their third World Series title in five seasons. Madison Bumgarner pitched a complete game shutout as the Giants went on to defeat the Royals 5-0 in Game 5 of the World Series.
Bumgarner once again delivered a flawless postseason start for the Giants on Sunday night. It was his second complete game shutout of the 2014 playoffs and most likely his last start of the year. San Francisco handed Royals' starter James Shields a loss for the second time in the World Series, but this time it was the bottom of the order that came through for the Giants.
Shields lasted six innings and gave up eight hits and two earned runs. Giants' shortstop Brandon Crawford was the result of those two runs thanks to an RBI groundout in the second inning and an RBI single in the fourth. He also added another RBI single in the eighth inning off Wade Davis. Outfielder Juan Perez delivered a two-run double in the eighth as well. San Francisco totaled 12 hits on the night while Bumgarner held the Royals to just four hits and struck out eight.
Manager Bruce Bochy and the Giants are just one win away from another World Series title, which will likely solidify his place in baseball history as one of the greatest postseason skippers. Games 6 and 7 will take place in Kansas City on Tuesday and Wednesday.
For Game 6, the Giants will probably send Jake Peavy to the mound to face the Royals' Yordano Ventura. The rookie right-hander Ventura received a no-decision in Game 2 of the series after he pitched 5 1/3 innings and gave up just two earned runs on eight hits. Peavy was handed a loss in that game in his worst performance of the postseason. The veteran right-hander surrendered four earned runs on six hits and two walks in just five innings.
Peavy was outperformed by the 22-year-old last week, but it'll likely be a different matchup this time around. Ventura, if he starts, will be placed in a very high-pressure situation for a young pitcher and baseball fans saw what happened when he was involved in such an environment earlier this postseason. During the AL Wild Card Game, Ventura came on in relief for James Shields and gave up a two-run home run to Brandon Moss to put the Royals down 4-3. Ventura lasted only 1/3 of an inning before he was pulled.
But Peavy's career postseason stats aren't anything to write home about. He's just 1-4 with a 7.05 ERA in eight starts. But if he can pitch the Giants to victory on Tuesday, he'll capture his second World Series title in two years, with last year's coming during his time with the Red Sox.
Tune in to FOX at 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday for coverage of Game 6.
