Madison Bumgarner did all he could do to clinch being selected the most valuable player of the World Series. Two games, two victories, one run and, in the last game here this season, one loud "M-V-P" chant from the home fans.
For the San Francisco Giants, one to go. For the Kansas City Royals, well, they might not be done with the amazing Mr. Bumgarner just yet.
Willie Mays has a statue outside AT&T Park, and Willie McCovey does too, and at this rate Bumgarner might get there. In his World Series career, he has given up one run in 31 innings. That earned-run average, ladies and gentlemen and sabermetricians of all ages: 0.29.
No one has given up so few runs in so many World Series innings — not Sandy Koufax, not Orel Hershiser, not Walter Johnson.
In this era of six innings and get the game to the bullpen, Bumgarner was his own bullpen Sunday. He went the distance in a 5-0 victory to carry the Giants within one victory of their third World Series championship in five years.
Game 6 is Tuesday in Kansas City. If the Royals force a deciding Game 7, Bumgarner will be available in the bullpen, for what would be the last game of the season.
Bumgarner has four of the Giants' 11 victories in the World Series run of 2010, 2012 and 2014. No one else has more than two. The Giants set up shop here in 1958, and no San Francisco team has won a World Series without him.
The last pitcher to throw a World Series shutout: Josh Beckett, in 2003, the Florida Marlins' clincher over the Yankees at New York.
Bumgarner has thrown 472/3 innings this October, a postseason record. He has struck out 41, walked six and given up six earned runs. His ERA this October: 1.13.
In 1988, when Hershiser willed the Dodgers to their last World Series title, his postseason ERA was 1.05.
That kind of company?
"Pretty special," Bumgarner said, "and very humbling."
On Sunday, Bumgarner barely allowed the Royals to breathe. He gave up four hits, walked none and struck out eight.
Lorenzo Cain singled with two out in the first inning; Bumgarner struck out the next batter. Salvador Perez singled to start the second inning; Bumgarner struck out the next three batters. Omar Infante doubled with one out in the fifth; Bumgarner struck out the next two batters.
Bumgarner pitched with little margin for error. The Giants scored two runs in the first seven innings, then three in the eighth inning. Brandon Crawford, the light-hitting shortstop, drove in three runs . Juan Perez, inserted as a defensive replacement, drove in two.
What Bumgarner has done in this Series is what the Dodgers expected Clayton Kershaw to do in their playoff series: win both of his starts.
The career postseason records: 7-3 for Bumgarner, 1-5 for Kershaw.
"Kershaw is a great pitcher, no question," Giants coach Ron Wotus said. "Bumgarner, with what he's done in the postseason, he's performed better than Kershaw, quite frankly."
In June, as the Giants coughed up a 10-game lead over the Dodgers, Giants pitcher Tim Hudson said Bumgarner called this classic fall.
"Isn't it amazing," Bumgarner told Hudson, "we're going to get to the World Series and win it?"
Said Hudson, laughing as he retold the story: "I was just hoping we would finish .500."
That kind of confidence leads to this kind of performance, and to dreams of an every-other-year parade.
"He'll sleep well," Giants pitcher Jeremy Affeldt said, "if his adrenaline allows him to go to bed."
Twitter: @BillShaikin
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