NL 2014 Wild Card Game: Giants dominate Pirates

Dissatisfied to chug a mere two beers like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Madison Bumgarner went for FOUR:

Double the Beer Bash, double the fun. He only got a fraction of the beer into his mouth, but who’s counting?

The Pirates did not bring it in the NL Wild Card game against the Giants. Starter Edinson Volquez gave up five runs in five innings, the bullpen allowed three more. Their offense mustered zero runs against Madison Bumgarner. They did, however, have one star:

The one bright spot is that the crowd cleared out enough by the ninth inning to let this little guy shine. His final stats, per the unofficial scorekeeper (I am the unofficial scorekeeper):

It’s too soon in the postseason to accord Bumgarner the status Lincecum and Cain have achieved in previous Octobers. In 2010, en route to a World Series victory, Lincecum made five postseason starts, appeared in six games, and pitched 37 innings with a 2.43 ERA, one of which was an all-time great start to open the NLDS. In 2012, it was Cain’s turn to shoulder the load while Lincecum pitched primarily out of the pen: Cain logged five starts and a 3.60 ERA over 30 innings, and helped the Giants to their second title in three years. Bumgarner was there in both instances -- he hasn’t allowed an earned run in the World Series in two starts and 15 innings, a stretch that began as a rookie in 2010 -- but he wasn’t assigned as much of the workload and responsibility as the aces he’s worked alongside.

They’re aces no more, at least not for 2014 purposes, so it’s fallen to Bumgarner to fill that role for a Giants team that will need one if they plan on getting as deep into these playoffs as they did in their last two visits. He’s been that guy in the regular season for two years now, with consecutive seasons of sub-3.00 ERA ball and over 200 innings in each. His first playoff start as the official, unquestioned Giants Ace went along similar lines.

The Nationals (96-66) had the best record in the National League during the regular season, earning home field advantage through the National League Championship Series should they advance that far. Washington beat the Giants in five of their seven meetings in 2014, including winning two of three games at Nationals Park.

Here is the NLDS schedule:

The Giants are leading the Pirates 5-0. This guy is not enjoying it:

Meanwhile, on the other side of the stadium, an 18-foot-tall Giant is stomping concession stands in joy.

Brandon Crawford became the first shortstop *ever* to hit a postseason grand slam when he homered to put the Giants up 4-0 over the Pirates early in their Wild Card game. Crazy but true. Crawford’s wife is as blown away as we were:

His sister, who dates a Pirates pitcher, was a bit more conflicted.

Volquez settled down post-grand slam to retire the next three batters.

The Giants have come to Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates in the National League’s Wild Card game. Edinson Volquez is taking the mound for the Bucs while Madison Bumgarner steps in to try to keep the Giants’ season alive, and now we know who these two will be facing.

The Pirates’ lineup:

The Pirates are plucky, young, and sneaky in that they have one of the better lineups in the National League.

The Giants are familiar and confusing, as they started the season 60-2 before giving away the division in their last 100 games.

The game will be televised by ESPN, with Dan Shulman on the call along with John Kruk and Buster Olney.

“Bum was our Opening Day guy; he’s had a great year,” San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said on Thursday, per John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle.