Giants fans grateful for Bumgarner’s return

The San Francisco Giants didn't bring much to the table offensively Thursday night, but they brought just enough to grab a 2-0 win and a commanding 2-0 series lead over the Detroit Tigers. Left-hander Madison Bumgarner finally put his late-season struggles behind him and shutdown the Tigers for seven innings, striking out eight and allowing just two hits in the process. The bullpen put the finishing touches on the night, retiring the final six Tigers in order to hand Detroit just their third shutout of the season.

Madison Bumgarner was good again...

It was possible to do it without Bumgarner. It might have been impossible to do it without Bumgarner. And it still might not be done at all, even with Bumgarner's help. Those "it"s are about the World Series, in case I lost you back there. But it sure is cool as all heck to have him back for a night. He has exemplary timing, that one...

And now the Giants really are halfway to another championship. Just like we all figured when Homer Bailey was liquifying Giants hitters in Game 3 of the NLDS, or when we heard that Justin Verlander was matched up with Barry Zito in Game 1. But here we are. I don't think I have to remind you that weird stuff could be around the corner. The Giants won three straight games to escape each of the last two series, reaching back to grab their fedora at the last second. There could be some comeuppance a coming. Uppance. You know that.

But, all in all, winning the first two games of the World Series was probably a good decision.

The Giants will hand the ball over to their two most reliable starters, Ryan Vogelsong and Matt Cain, for Games 3 and 4 to go for the World Series sweep in Detroit. The Tigers will send July acquisition Anibal Sanchez to the mound in Game 3 on Saturday with the hope that he can help get the team back into the series.