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 The young lefty lifted the Giants to a 3-2 lead in the
best-of-seven with a 5-0 win that moved an AT&T Park crowd to chant
"M-V-P, M-V-P" in a farewell to Bumgarner as Major League Baseball's
championship shifts to Kansas City for its climax.
Bumgarner, 25, struck out eight without a walk, lowered his career
World Series earned run average to a record 0.29, and improved his
Fall Classic record to 4-0.
"I felt great," said Bumgarner, who dominated the Royals 7-1 in San
Francisco's opening game victory in Kansas City.
"I'm just happy we won. That was a big game for us being tied up
2-2."
Patience from Giants manager Bruce Bochy paid off after he stuck to
his rotation and did not bring Bumgarner back a day early to start
Friday's Game Four, which San Francisco won 11-4.
One day before that, a report surfaced that Bumgarner had demanded
to start Game Four on short rest rather than wait for Game Five,
something the pitcher denied.
 "I'm good with whatever (Bochy) wants to do this time of year. You
have to be ready to go whenever you're called on," Bumgarner told
reporters.
"He's the boss, he makes the decisions," added the pitcher, who made
it clear he would be available to contribute if the team needed him
in a potential Game Seven.
Adhering to the rotation worked wonders on Sunday and San
Francisco's second straight victory has them on the brink of
claiming their third World Series championship in five years.
It was all made possible by the red-hot Bumgarner, who became the
first pitcher to toss a complete-game shutout in the World Series
since Josh Beckett in 2003.
"When this guy is on, it's fun to watch," Bochy said. "He had great
stuff."
The Giants scored their first run in the second inning when Hunter
Pence crossed home on a groundout from shortstop Brandon Crawford,
who had three RBIs in the game.
The home team scored another run in the fourth when a single by
Crawford plated Pablo Sandoval.
That was more than enough for the masterful Bumgarner, but the
Giants piled on three runs in the eighth with defensive outfield
replacement Juan Perez belting a two-run double high of the center
field fence to send the crowd into a frenzy.
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PRESSURE OFF
San Francisco enjoyed an offensive explosion in Game Four with 11
runs on 16 hits, but they managed on far less with their standout on
the mound. "You look at (Bumgarner) and he looks like he's pitching
in the middle of June," Crawford said. "He takes the pressure off
everyone."
Sandoval and Pence, stalwarts in the middle of the Giants lineup,
each had two hits and two runs scored in the victory.
Kansas City starter James Shields had a solid outing, yielding two
runs on eight hits over six innings but was no match for Bumgarner.
The Royals entered the World Series as an amazing Cinderella story,
having gone undefeated through the playoffs to reach the title
series. Kansas City is looking for a first World Series since 1985
and have run into a huge challenge in trying to get over the line.
Typically known for their stellar defense, the Royals were let down
in the field when shortstop Alcides Escobar failed on a pair of
tricky plays that led to runs in the second and fourth innings.
"They were difficult plays. (But) If he catches those balls it's
probably 0-0 going into the eighth," Royals manager Ned Yost said.
"We have to walk a tightrope now without a net. If we fall off we're
dead."
(Additional reporting by Jahmal Corner in Los Angeles; Editing by
John O'Brien)
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reserved.]
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