Postgame
Well, Royals fans waited 29 years to see Wold Series baseball at Kauffman Stadium and then watched their team be completely and totally outplayed. Power, defense, and of course, the pitching of Madison Bumgarner (now 3-0 in the World Series) combined for a complete performance from the San Francisco Giants who continue to show that they were built to succeed in October.
Now, the Royals haven’t lost a game in 24 days - how will they react to having the steam sucked out of them on their own carpet, with their ace shelled to boot? We’ll find out tomorrow night, and we’ll be there, again, for live coverage. Same time, same place - 730EST, 1230UK. Until then, good morning, good evening and goodnight.
Updated
Giants 7-1 Royals, Final
Josh Willingham is pinch-hitting for Butler, which will make the Marlins fan behind the plate really happy.
The count is 2-2 on Willingham - he can’t handle an absolutely nasty curveball - strike three and the ballgame is over!
Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 9th
Hosmer grounds out to second base - easy for Panik and there’s two down.
Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 9th
It will be Cain, Hosmer and Butler here in the ninth, and in to face them is Hunter Strickland, how actually got knocked around so much in these playoffs, his admittance into the Hunter Club is in jeopardy.
@LengelDavid Only possible thing that might let the Royals into this is if Bochy brings on Strickland for the 9th. He wouldn't tho, right?
— MJG78 (@Techn0phobe) October 22, 2014
A good start for Strickland - he blows away Cain, and that’s no easy feat. Now Hosmer....
Look...
The Rob Lowe Direct TV commercials must go away. How do we make this happen? Together we are strong!
Giants 7-1 Royals, top 9th
Morse waves at a high fastball and the side is retired. And...here come the Royals?
Kara: Ugh. This Royals World Series game is terrible and no fun. 1986-2013 Kara: YOU SHUT YOUR FILTHY MOUTH. #TakeTheCrown @LengelDavid
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
Clearly there’s some infighting over at The K.
Giants 7-1 Royals, top 9th
Jason Frasor on in relief, and after he gets Posey to bounce out, Sandoval is on after he lines a ball off Moustakas at third - that’s an E-5, and a tough one.
So one on and one out for Pence who is looking to pad his night. He’s on again after a walk. Here comes Belt, who grounds to Escobar who flips to Infante for the force at second base.
Two outs, runners at the corners for Toothy Morse.
Madison Bumgarner
Well, he didn’t hit a home run but he did wreck the Royals lineup. After squeezing out of a third inning jam, the Giants ace started operation shutdown. Only Perez’ big fly could scar his line.
7IP 3H 1R 1ER 1BB 5SO 1HR
Untouchable, more or less.
@LengelDavid They say home runs kill rallies. You know what really kills rallies? GDPs.
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 8th
Javier Lopez is out to mop this thing up. He gets Moustakas on a comebacker, throwing to first for the first out. Escobar singles, but then is wiped out on a 4-6-3, that’s second base to shortstop to first - two outs, one time.
Inning over.
Giants 7-1 Royals, top 8th
Blanco and Panik pop out to end the inning - meanwhile, Bumgarner is done...
Giants 7-1 Royals, top 8th
Perez strikes out looking and then Crawford has a hit to go along with his spectacular glove - the ball is heading to the gap in left but so is Gordon! He makes a sliding stop that passes for a Royals highlight tonight while Crawford is held to a single.
@LengelDavid It's been 24 days since the Royals lost. Assuming there's no comeback, it'll be interesting to see how team/fans respond.
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
Well, it ain’t over till it’s over, but I agree.
Believe it or not...
The FOX guys are making me miss Tim McCarver. I have a feeling I’m not alone.
Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 7th
Infante pops one up to shallow left field - Crawford has a beat on it and makes a over the shoulder catch that looked way too easy. Side retired.
HOME RUN! Giants 7-1 Royals, bottom 7th
The big Venezuelan gets the Royals on the board with a blast to left. Bumgarner’s World Series shutout streak is history and the home team is on the board.
Updated
Giants 7-0 Royals, bottom 7th
Bumgarner is out for the seventh to face Billy Butler - and he gives it a ride but it’s just a long and loud out after Blanco makes the catch in center.
His 100th pitch is a groundout off the bat of Alex Gordon.
Complete and total control from the ace. Now Perez...
Seventh Inning Stretch
Broken record time - can someone remind me why we’re singing God Bless America in the middle of a baseball game?
Please stop. Thank you.
Giants 7-0 Royals, top 7th
Pence is at the plate and Sandoval is down to second on a woild pithc. Then Collins walks Pence before striking out Belt. So now two on, two out for Morse who flies to center to end the inning. Two home in the frame for the visitors and it’s stretch time.
Will Hosmer and Co. be covering bar tabs tonight? Because I will need a drink. @LengelDavid #TakeTheCrown #StillBelieve
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
I think it’s only fair. Meanwhile, FOX broadcasters make their second cricket reference tonight - that could be a drinking game for tomorrow.
RUN! Giants 7-0 Royals, top 7th
Sandoval, who has hit in 24 consecutive postseason games, lines a grounder through the left side of the encroaching infield - Panik strolls home for another tack on Giants run.
Ugly.
Giants 6-0 Royals, top 7th
Southpaw Tim Collins is in, and Posey lines one to Hosmer who was playing with the infield in for the first out. Sandoval steps in now with Panik still on third...
@LengelDavid Prob time for the Royals to Panik..
— MJG78 (@Techn0phobe) October 22, 2014
That or start stealing bases and dropping bunts...
RUN! Giants 6-0 Royals, top 7th
Duffy loses Blanco - that’s a leadoff walk, which never bodes well. Panik is next.
He lifts one to right - Aoki is crossed up in the outfield and the ball gets by him! Blanco comes around from first, Panik lands at third, and the kid from Westchester County has himself an RBI triple!
Here comes Yost to get Duffy, cue the organ.
MadBum playing like he's defending a nohitter @LengelDavid #sfgiants #worldseries
— Kembrek (@kembrek83) October 22, 2014
@LengelDavid That Crawford E early on looks like a collector's item. A bit more offense from him and the Giants have their SS for a while
— MJG78 (@Techn0phobe) October 22, 2014
You ain’t just whistlin’ Dixie.
Giants 5-0 Royals, bottom 6th
Aoki, a routine ground ball out to short.
Cain, a high chop, Crawford has it again - he throws to first for out two.
Now Hosmer, looking to shake the tree, hits Bumgarner...or his glove. The Giants ace knocks down the ball and makes the throw from his knees - FROM HIS KNEES, in time to get the Royals first baseman.
The man does it all - he’s now over 30 consecutive shutout postseason innings.
@LengelDavid The K used Don't Stop Believing as its mid-6th anthem all season. Since Steve Perry is a Giants fan, its replaced with KISS.
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
A good common sense move. Here’s another - a Motley Crew of Royals fans head to the Giants hotel tonight and blast “Royals” for six straight hours...that could help.
Giants 5-0 Royals, top 6th
Crawford bounces out, Hosmer to Duffy, and he’s really settled in here. Not sure it matters with Bumgarner on the hill though.
Giants 5-0 Royals, top 6th
Perez hits a one of those fly balls that makes you realize just how much real estate is out there. Cain, running to his right, tracks it down for the second out.
Now Duffy has Crawford in the hole 0-2 with signs of life coming from the crowd at The K...
Giants 5-0 Royals, top 6th
Here is Morse, who is an enormous man with very bright teeth. He hits a line-shot to left that is just foul...
Duffy rears back on 1-2 and Morse waves at it, that’s the third strikeout for the starter turned reliever. Juan Perez steps in with one down.
If the Moustakas antlers guy pops up, the people behind him are legally allowed to light them on fire. @LengelDavid pic.twitter.com/zQQPYTZcvB
— Bunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 22, 2014
You have to be willing to die for your art.
Giants 5-0 Royals, bottom 5th
Bumgarner is heading into piss-take mode. After Infante popped out to right, he throws a bugs-bunny curve ball that Moustakas has no idea what to do with...not that anyone would.
Then Escobar flies to right to end the inning.
Suddenly the Royals are as cold as ice.
Updated
Giants 5-0 Royals, top 5th
Duffy gets Belt swinging and there’s a bit of Cardinal-fan-like rah-rah from the crowd as KC head to the dugout, that despite being down 5-0. What is it with Missouri?
Giants 5-0 Royals, top 5th
Sandoval takes his first ball on pitch six of his at-bat vs Duffy. Two pitches later Panda grounds out to Escobar who was in the hole at short - a fine play there for the first out.
Now it’s Pence looking gto ad to his tally. He hits a little chopper up the middle - Escobar is charging and running to his left towards second - it’s another strong play as he gets Pence by a step for the second out.
Belt is next...
Ginats 5-0 Royals, bottom 4th
Butler pops out, Gordon and Perez strike out and Bumgarner is doing it his way. He’s thrown 67 pitches through four shut-out innings.
Updated
It is awfully cute that the KC fans give an ovation after their team gives up 2 runs. Could have been worse? @LengelDavid
— Howard (@haf118) October 22, 2014
@LengelDavid Fans are back on their feet. If Butler, Gordon and Salvy get something started, it'll be loud again.
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
Optimism vs pessimism....
And I quote...
There’s a lot of energy in here still and a lot of belief.
Royals bench-player extraordinaire Raul Ibanez speaking to FOX TV, here in the US.
Big Game James
The data says he got hammered tonight.
3IP 7H 5R 5ER 1BB 1SO 1HR
Don’t worry KC, you’ve got Yordano Ventura tomorrow night.
Giants 5-0 Royals, top 4th
Joe Panik swings through a fastball at the knees and the Royals crowd let’s out a little burst...two down.
Now here’s Posey looking to poke that bubble - b he pops up to the right side - Aoki is there to make the catch in right and the inning is over.
Yes, it could have been a lot worse, this is true. Still, KC have a lot of work to do against a guy on the mound who hasn’t given up a run in a long, long time.
RUN! Giants 5-0 Royals, top 4th
Duffy is behind to Blanco 2-0 and then 3-1. Then he walks him.
Yes, that just happened. Belt scores.
Royals pitching coach Dave Eiland is out for a chat - now don’t Panik...
@LengelDavid Kauffman crowd is quietest its been since A's 5-run sixth inning in the Wild Card game. Pretty deflated.
— karamoran (@karamoran) October 22, 2014
@LengelDavid It's funny that the DH rule favours the NL team. The love child of Michael Morse and Ishikawa / Blanco is a decent ball player!
— MJG78 (@Techn0phobe) October 22, 2014
Giants 4-0 Royals, top 4th
So here’s Duffy, a southpaw, facing a pich hitter - Juan Perez is in for Travis Ishikawa, and he promtly moves the runners with a sac-bunt.
So now there’s one out and Crawford at the plate who Duffy walks! So now we’ve got bases full of Giants and The Animal Gregor Blanco trying to break this baby wide wide open...
The Marlins fan...
As BrooklYINZ points out, there is a Marlins fan in full view of every single person watching this World Series. I can now report that he is a sports-mad Marlins super-fan that loves his team and going to big events. Here’s an amusing look at him from back in 2012. Thanks to Alan Evans for the tip!
RUN! Giants 4-0 Royals, top 4th
Michael Morse lashes a base hit into center field - Pence scores and that will do it for Big - Game - James.
That’s unfair, isn’t it?
Great that the breaks are finally going in favor of the Giants this postseason. @LengelDavid
— Bunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 22, 2014
It was going to happen sooner or later.
Giants 3-0 Royals, top 4th
Pence is back, and this time he slices a double down the leftfield line. MVP? Too early?
Too early.
Oh wait...now Pence is at third - a changeup to Brandon Belt is in the dirt and moves the runner to third.
Then he walks him.
So now Shields takes a little stroll into the situation room and we got action in the bullpen - it’s Danny Duffy getting to work.
@LengelDavid Marlins guy behind home plate needs some sweet chin music
— BrooklYINZ (@ItsPaaat) October 22, 2014
The guy in orange? That’s an outrage.
@LengelDavid Not clinical, but a lot of guts shown to get out of that.. Madbum keeping a cool head today, and pitch count looking fine.
— MJG78 (@Techn0phobe) October 22, 2014
I hate to say this but... Maybe the Royals should have bunted there? I... I don't know who I am anymore. @LengelDavid
— Bunter Felt (@HunterFelt) October 22, 2014
You’re a disgrace. How dare you.
Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd
Air. Balloon.
Hosmer is first pitch swinging and bounces one to Panik at second - it’s easy for the kid, who gobbles it up and fires over to first to complete the Giants Houdini act.
You don’t get shots at Bumgarner like that, and you have to cash in when you do.
Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd
Lorenzo Cain is a disciplined man - he works a walk and the bases are filled with Royals. Eric Hosmer can give the home team the lead with one big swing...
Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd
Bumgarner is ahead 0-2 and then he throws a slider in the dirt that Aoki can’t resist - he checks his swing and third base umpire Ted Barett says “guilty as charged!” Two outs!
Are the Giants really going to get out of this scott free? Here’s Cain, who has had his share of timely hits these playoffs.
@LengelDavid Madbum has struggled to put away batters from an 0-2 count all post season. Too many pitches in the dirt. Not to Escobar tho!
— MJG78 (@Techn0phobe) October 22, 2014
Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd
Now it’s less lolud. Escobar chases the high cheese and he’s defenseless. First strikeout for Bumgarner, one down for the left handed Aoki...
Giants 3-0 Royals, bottom 3rd
Another broken bat, this time it’s Omar Infante leading off for KC, and it’s a spinning top that Brandon Crawford can’t handle! It’s an E-6 and a runner on for KC...
Now Moustakas lines one into the right field corner - that’s extra bases! Infante holds at third and Mooooose is on second with a double.
That’s a shot of espresso for fans out at The K!
So two on, nobody out and here’s the top of the order - Alcides Escobar.
And it’s loud...
@LengelDavid As we all know early runs against the Royals don't mean much. Shields settling in. Lots of baseball left. #WorldSeriesGame1
— Paula Halton (@haltonpm) October 22, 2014
"@ZColangelo: Hunter Pence or Marv from home alone? @BaseballBros pic.twitter.com/JOvdj8Fz0V" @Azmen_11 @Billy_Ho15
— Tyler Mills (@mm_edge) October 22, 2014
Not bad, you buying it?