Madison Bumgarner Pitches a Shutout as Giants Beat Pirates in N.L Wild Card Game
The National League Wild Card playoff game figured to be a pitcher’s duel, with 18 game winner Madison Bumgarner starting for San Francisco and Edinson Volquez (13-7 on the season, with a 1.08 ERA in six September starts) going for the Pittsburgh. Bumgarner did his part; the Giants’ top starter threw a four hit shutout to beat the Pirates and end their season.
Volquez gave up a grand slam home run to shortstop Brandon Crawford in the fourth inning, and that’s all Bumgarner needed. Another Brandon, first baseman Brandon Belt, had three RBIs. Incidentally, this in from the Department of Interesting, Albeit Useless, Information: Crawford is the first shortstop to hit a grand slam home run in post season play.
San Francisco will now go to Washington to take on the Nationals in a best of five Division Series starting October 3rd.
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I think the whole N.L. is now a toss-up. The two teams with the road disadvantage have proven to be tough: they know the way to the W.S.
Past thinking the Royals are (justifiably) just happy to have made it, I don’t know what to think of the A.L.
It could be wild!
So naturally, the Royal take game one.
Less than one week until Hockey, though.