2014 World Series: game 4

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In a timespan of three innings the Giants broke the stronghold of the Royals’ bullpen. After game three, Giants’ manager Bruce Bochy said that the Royals’ bullpen was one of the best around. Yesterday they did nothing to prove his point.

After the Royals had taken a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning, the Giants came back within two runs in the bottom of the third. With runners on the corners Eric Hosmer singled down the first base line to drive in Alex Gordon to third and to move Lorenzo Cain to second. Then Mike Moustakas drew a walk of Ryan Vogelsong to load the bases. Singles by Omar Infante and Salvador Perez drove in three more runs.

But the Giants showed their timely hitting once again. After Jason Vargas gave up a double to Joe Panik, Royals’ manager Ned Yost decided to use his bullpen. Jason Frasor took the mound and retired Buster Posey on a 6-3 ground out. Hunter Pence then drove in Joe Panik on a single to center field. Frasor was then replaced by Danny Duffy, who couldn;t stop the Giants from tying the game; a single to Pablo Sandoval and a walk given up to Brandon Belt loaded the bases. When Juan Perez hit a sac fly to center field, Hunter Pence scored the tying run.

In the sixth, Brandon Finnegan took the mound. He gave up singles to Joaquin Arias and Gregor Blanco, who advanced a base on a sacrifice bunt laid down by Joe Panik. Then Finnegan walked Buster Posey intentionally.  The second out of the inning came when Hunter Pence hit into a bases loaded force out. Shortstop Alcides Escobar threw the ball to catcher Salvador Perez. Hunter Pence was safe on the fielders choice. Singles by Pablo Sandoval and Brandon Belt drove in three more runs to give the Giants a 7-4 lead.

If this wasn’t enough, the Giants put the pedal to the metal once more in the seventh inning. When Gregor Blanco laid down a bunt with runners on first and second, pitcher Tim Collins made a throwing error that allowed Brandon Crawford to score and Michael Morse to advance to third base. Eventually the Giants scored three more runs on doubles by Joe Panik and Hunter Pence.

Except for a single and a double, the Royals cound’t add more to the game.

Brendan Finnegan took the loss for the Royals. In one inning he allowed five earned runs on five hits and he walked two.

Yusmeiro Petit earned the win for the Giants. In three innings of work he allowed only two hits and fanned two.

Best hitter for the Giants was Hunter Pence. With three hits (one of them was a double) out of five at bats he was the spark plug of the Giants once again. He drove in three runs and left four runners on base.

With the series tied at two, there is one game to be played in San Francisco. Game six and (if necessary) game seven will be played in Kansas City.