Armed with a lead, every pitcher just wants to come back with a shutdown inning, and that's what Madison Bumgarner was able to do in the top of the second.
Phillies Vs. Giants, NLCS Game 4: Madison Bumgarner Works Scoreless Second
Bumgarner started off with a Jayson Werth fly out. He then allows Jimmy Rollins to ground a single into left for the Phillies' first hit of the game, but a six-pitch battle with Ben Francisco concluded with a strikeout on a fastball over the plate.
With one on and two out, Carlos Ruiz stepped in, trying to keep the inning alive. Ruiz would see a couple pitches and fall behind 0-2, but on Bumgarner's third pitch, Rollins took off for second, and Bumgarner made a throw over to first. Aubrey Huff caught the ball and immediately threw down to second, where shortstop Edgar Renteria came in, slid, caught the ball, and applied a tag on Rollins all in one motion for an incredible, successful pickoff.
Rollins and first base coach Davey Lopes argued for a balk, but nothing was called, and we’re off to the bottom of the second.
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