World Series: Madison Bumgarner Carries Giants To 3rd Title In 5 Years

By Chris Hopkins / NPR

Published October 29, 2014 at 5:53 PM PDT

This story was published more than 10 years ago.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner throws during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the World Series. He was also the winning starting pitcher in Game 1 and Game 5.

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez lies on the ground after being hit by a pitch by San Francisco Giants Tim Hudson on Wednesday night during the second inning of Game 7 of baseball's World Series in Kansas City, Mo.

Madison Bumgarner won Game 1 of this World Series, throwing seven innings and giving up one run on three hits. He won Game 5, throwing a complete game shutout.

And on Wednesday night, completing one of the most impressive postseason pitching performances in history, he won Game 7, pitching the final five innings on two days rest, giving up just two hits as the Giants won the game 3-2, and won the World Series.

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All told he gave up just nine hits and one run in 21 innings of World Series action as the Giants won their third title in five years. He struck out 17 while walking just one Royals batter.

The Royals, making their first World Series appearance since 1985, seemed in many ways a team of destiny early in the postseason as they won their first eight games, half in extra innings. But Bumgarner came into Kauffman Stadium and took a pair of wins.

The Associated Press notes that only Randy Johnson with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2001 had also won three games in a World Series in recent decades.