The buzz coming into Game 4 was whether or not San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy should use their staff ace Madison Bumgarner to pitch on short rest in Game 4 because the Giants were down in the series. After the first three innings, one could point the finger and say Bochy made a mistake as the Kansas City Royals were beating the Giants 4-1 and Game 4 starter Ryan Vogelsong was already out to the game. That is why you play nine innings because the Giants offense came to life and score 10 unanswered defeating the Royals 11-4, making sure there will be a Game 6 in Kansas City.
After scoring two runs on four hits the night before, the Giants offense busted out for 11 runs on 16 hits. Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval were the in the middle of the Giants offensive onslaught, as they were a combined 5-for-10 with five RBIs. Pence put together a complete game tonight. The Giants right fielder recorded three hits, drove in three runs, scored twice, hustled on the base paths, and even made some nice defensive plays. Sandoval made his mark as well, the Giants third baseman started 0-for-2 with two strikeouts but he came up big when it mattered most in the sixth inning. The game was tied 4-4 with the bases loaded and two outs, Sandoval barreled up the first pitch and lined it to center field for a 2-run single giving the Giants a 6-4 lead.
Now, in order to score 11 runs you need the top of the lineup to continually reach base, and tonight the Giants 1-2 punch of Gregor Blanco and Joe Panik did just that. The two table setters went a combined 4-for-9 with five runs scored and two RBIs. After a rough start to his postseason Blanco has been an on-base machine. The speedy center fielder has reached base in six straight games dating back to the NLCS.
The Kansas City Royals pitching staff had allowed 11 runs total in the previous three games against the Giants. It was a matter of time until the Royals bullpen did not ring the bell and get to the three-headed monster of Herrera-Davis-Holland. Royals’ starter Jason Vargas did not do the pen any favors, as he only went four innings allowing three runs on six hits. But the remaining four innings were disastrous as the Royals bullpen gave up eight runs on 10 hits, while walking four batters. The left-hander Brandon Finnegan was on the hook for most of the damage, giving up five runs on five hits and two walks in only one inning of work.
The Royals bullpen faltered but the San Francisco Giants bullpen was spectacular. Giants’ starter Ryan Vogelsong only went two and two-thirds innings allowing four runs on seven hits. San Francisco’s pen picked him starting with Jean Machi who struck out the pitcher Jason Vargas with the bases loaded to end the third inning.
The real hero of the night for the Giants was right-handed relief pitcher Yusmeiro Petit who came in the fourth inning and pitched three shutout innings, giving his teammates times to claw back and take the lead. In addition, he recorded a base hit in the fourth inning. Petit has been the saving grace for the Giants. In three postseason appearances, Petit has pitched 12 shutout innings allowing only four base hits while striking out 12 batters. In each of his three appearances, Petit has factored in the decision winning all three games.
Kansas City’s lineup was rolling in the first three innings. They scored four runs on seven hits, and everyone in the lineup contributed. In the final six innings the Royals lineup was shutout and they only recorded five base hits.
The Royals offense hopes to fare better in Game 5 tomorrow night, but they have to face Game starter Madison Bumgarner who dominated them by going seven innings allowing only one run. James Shields will be on the mound for Kansas City, hoping to pitch a lot better than he has for most of the postseason including Game 1 of the series where he went three innings allowing five runs. In four postseason starts, Shields is 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA.