Madison Bumgarner threw eight scoreless innings, pitching the San Francisco Giants to a 4-0 win over the host Texas Rangers in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday and moving them within one win of the franchise's first title since 1954.
Aubrey Huff and Buster Posey hit home runs for the Giants and Andres Torres had three hits, including an RBI double, which was far more support than Bumgarner (1-0) needed.
The 21-year-old rookie left-hander allowed three hits - all singles - and struck out six while walking two. He was within three outs of becoming the first rookie to throw a complete-game shutout in the World Series since Cleveland's Gene Bearden shut out the Boston Braves on five hits in Game 3 of the 1948 World Series.
Giants closer Brian Wilson pitched a perfect ninth to finish the three-hit shutout, making the Rangers the first team since the 1966 Dodgers to be shut out twice in the same World Series.
Huff gave San Francisco the lead with a two-run blast down the right-field line in the third inning. It was the only major mistake by Rangers right-hander Tommy Hunter (0-1), who labored through four innings, allowing two runs on five hits and walking one.
The Rangers' beleaguered bullpen held it there until the seventh, when Edgar Renteria singled with one out and scored on Torres' double to right-center off Darren Oliver.
Posey added his solo shot to center in the eighth, connecting against Darren O'Day.
Texas will pin its hopes of sending the series back to San Francisco on ace left-hander Cliff Lee, who will pitch Game 5 against Tim Lincecum on Monday.
San Francisco | Texas | |
Madison Bumgarner | Player | Tommy Hunter |
Win | W/L | Loss |
8.0 | IP | 4.0 |
6 | Strikeouts | 1 |
3 | Hits | 5 |
0.00 | ERA | 4.50 |
San Francisco | Texas | |
Edgar Renteria | Player | Nelson Cruz |
3 | Hits | 1 |
0 | RBI | 0 |
0 | HR | 0 |
3 | TB | 1 |
.750 | Avg | .333 |
Team | Hits | HR | TB | Avg | LOB | K | RBI | BB | SB | Errors |
San Francisco | 8 | 2 | 16 | .229 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Texas | 3 | 0 | 3 | .107 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |