World Series Game 4, Giants Vs. Rangers: Buster Posey Home Run Adds More Insurance

Game 4 of the World Series is close. It's been close the whole time, and it's still close right now. But as close as it is, the Giants haven't given the Rangers any opportunity to feel like they're actually involved.

Madison Bumgarner has been absolutely magnificent in keeping the Rangers quiet through seven innings. And after getting two runs of support in the third, he got another in the seventh, and he just got another in the eighth.

Darren Oliver got Aubrey Huff to ground out to lead off the top of the eighth. Darren O'Day then came in from the bullpen to face the right-handed Buster Posey, as Ron Washington was playing the matchups. But O'Day and Posey got involved in a long battle before Posey launched an outside changeup to straightaway center. It didn't look real solid off the bat, and Josh Hamilton thought it would be an easy out, but the ball kept carrying, and carrying, and it wound up clearing the fence by several feet. The solo home run was the first for Posey in the playoffs, and it extended the Giants' lead to 4-0.

Cody Ross and Juan Uribe made outs to end the inning, but now the Rangers' task is that much taller. Bumgarner is back out to take the mound with a pitch count of 92.