The Giants, my team, have moved on to the next round of the playoffs after defeating the Pirates in the NL Wild Card Game. I'll hit on some of the most exciting parts of that game in this piece stealing liberally from others (with appropriate citations given). Hey, what do you expect. I'm swamped Wednesday with my NFL Preview piece - I only have to review 15 games - and also helping to wrap up editing the2014 Fantasy Alarm NBA Draft Guide. I'm busy. Sue me.


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From @Jaysonst

 

Edinson Volquez actually had a better finish to his reg season than Clayton Kershaw. In last 10 starts: 5-0, 1.36 ERA. Stats are fun, aren't they?

 

Madison Bumgarner joins these pitchers who have thrown CG shutouts in winner-take-all games w 10+ K: Sandy Koufax in 1965 & Justin Verlander in 2012

 

From @ckmka

 

Brandon Crawford: First postseason grand slam by a shortstop. Ever.

 

From @ESPNStatsInfo

 

Madison Bumgarner's last 2 postseason starts: 16 IP, 0 R, 6 H, 18 K, 3 BB

 

Shutout with 10+ K in winner-take-all postseason game- Madison Bumgarner 2014 Justin Verlander 2012 Sandy Koufax 1965

 

Giants shut out Pirates. They've won 7 straight postseason games in which they faced elimination, tied w/ Royals for longest streak (ELIAS)

 

From @CSNBaggs

 

The Giants are through. It's a 109-pitch, four-hit shutout for Madison Bumgarner. He's 25 years old. This will be his 10th champagne bath.

 

From @MLBastian

 

Add Bumgarner's name to this short list for postseason shutouts (9+ IP) with 10+ K and no more than 1 BB issued. See the list.

 

10+ Ks in a SHO in Giants postseason history? Bumgarner (tonight) and Lincecum (2010). Christy Mathewson only had 8 in his 1905 gem.


And then there is this from ESPN.com.

 

"Difference-maker: The Brandons 
Giants shortstop Brandon Crawford and first baseman Brandon Belt combined for seven RBIs. 

Crawford became the first shortstop in postseason history to hit a grand slam. He’s the second Giants player to hit a grand slam in a winner-take-all postseason game, joining Buster Posey, who had one in the 2012 NLDS against the Cincinnati Reds. There have been only three other such grand slams in postseason history (two by the Boston Red Sox and one by the New York Yankees). 

Crawford had no home runs in 56 career at-bats against Pirates pitchers prior to Wednesday. 

Belt had three career RBIs in 40 regular-season at-bats against the Pirates and matched that total in this game. 

The two combined to make some fun history. It’s the third time in postseason history that teammates with the same first name (or at least the name they go by) had at least three RBIs in a postseason game. The others were Jack Barry and Jack Coombs for the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics and Tito Landrum (actual first name, Terry) and Terry Pendleton in the 1985 NLCS for the St. Louis Cardinals."