Giants Starting To Feel It, 1 Win Away

Just one victory separates the Giants and their first World Series tittle in their San Francisco era after rookie left-hander Madison Bumgarner baffled the Rangers with 8 shutout innings, and the Giants have to be sensing something special.

I said it after his relief outing in game 6 when the Giants clinched the NLCS, Bumgarner's nails in pressure situations, and looked to really get back on track in that outing, and it definitely showed in Game 4 in Texas Sunday. Bumgarner held the high-powered Rangers offense to just 3 hits, none for extra-bases, and struck out 6 Ranger hitters on the night. Offensively, all the Giants really needed was Aubrey Huff's 2-run bomb in the 6th, but for good measure, Andres Torres drove in a run with a double, and Buster Posey hit a solo homer off of Darren O'Day to push the Giants lead to 4 runs. Though the offense looked good, the defense was dominant, as Bruce Bochy fielded his best defensive club, and they really came through for Bumgarner. Freddy Sanchez was great at 2nd base all night, as he's become a wall over there at second, and is finally showing Giants fans his full abilities. Cody Ross also made a few catches in left that Pat Burrell may not have gotten to, and had that been the case, who knows how this game transpires. Also, Buster Posey was once again brilliant behind the plate. The 23-year old hasn't had the best offensive series against Texas yet, but he sure has been brilliant behind the plate, and has come up with the clutch hit when needed.

Now, I can go on and on about this game, but chances are, most people got to watch or listen to it, so I don't really have to recap anything for anyone..... The Giants, fittingly, get to send Tim Lincecum to the hill in game 5 as they take their first shot at clinching the 2010 World Series. It will be a re-match of game 1 as the Rangers will counter with Cliff Lee again in the match-up of aces. Again, it's going to be key for the Giants to get on the board first and put Texas into panic mode. If Texas gets Lee an early lead, I think the lefty will do anything in his power to will himself to victory, so the Giants have to disrupt him early like they did in San Francisco. It's also key that Lincecum doesn't come out over-hyped and over-throwing.... That said, I don't think nerves are going to be a problem for this Giants team as they are now in complete control of this series... I'd also look for Pat Burrell to be back in the linuep, but it wouldn't surprise me to see Ishikawa at first and Huff at DH again, even against the lefty.