There's something about Madison Bumgarner and October.
On Wednesday night in New York, the San Francisco Giants left-hander crafted the latest chapter of his playoff legend with a dominating complete-game shutout of the Mets at Citi Field. He struck out six and allowed just four hits to give the Giants their ninth straight win when facing postseason elimination.
Just how good has Bumgarner been in October?
- In 23 innings pitched in winner-take-all games, Bumgarner's yet to allow a run.
- He hasn't allowed a hit with runners in scoring position on the road in the playoffs. In fact, when pitching away from AT&T Park during the postseason he's allowed only three runs
- His personal scoreless innings streak in the playoffs now sits at 23 1/3 consecutive innings. The last run he allowed? A homer to Salvador Perez in Game 1 of the 2014 World Series - a game San Francisco won 7-1.
- He's the first pitcher ever to throw multiple shutouts in winner-take-all playoff games.
- His career postseason ERA now sits at an astonishing 1.94.
As we revel in Bumgarner's latest performance, let's look back at five of his other memorable October performances.
Oct. 31, 2010: Blanking the Rangers
The legend of Bumgarner may have been born with a two-inning shutout relief appearance in Game 6 of the 2010 National League Championship Series, but it took off in his first World Series start. Pitching in the hostile environment of what was then called Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Bumgarner tossed eight shutout innings and struck out six Rangers hitters while allowing just three baserunners. Brian Wilson closed out the combined shutout with a perfect ninth; one night later the Giants won their first World Series since 1954.
Oct. 25, 2012: Redemption
This was maybe the one postseason Bumgarner struggled - for two rounds, at least. After posting an 11.25 ERA over the first two rounds of the playoffs Bumgarner shook those struggles off in Game 2 of the World Series against the Tigers, throwing another seven shutout innings while striking out eight and walking two. The Giants closed out the Tigers a few nights later in Detroit, in no small part thanks to Bumgarner's heroics in San Francisco.
Oct. 1, 2014: 1st wild-card shutout
Bumgarner knows all about wild-card shutouts. In his first try at the winner-take-all game in 2014, he walked into the intimidating atmosphere of Pittsburgh's PNC Park and left a champion. His four-hit, 10-strikeout shutout on 109 pitches was pure domination, as no Pirates baserunner got to third base. This dominant performance started the Giants on the path to yet another World Series title, something they're hoping will happen again thanks to Wednesday night's performance.
Oct. 26, 2014: The shutout
It may not be his most remembered performance, but Game 5 of the 2014 World Series produced one of the most dominant starts in the history of the Fall Classic. Bumgarner tossed a complete-game shutout, striking out eight Royals and allowing just four hits on 117 pitches at AT&T Park. Amazingly, those 117 pitches weren't even close to the last he'd throw in that World Series.
Oct. 29, 2014: Game 7
This was Bumgarner's Mona Lisa. Pitching on just two days' rest after his Game 5 shutout, Bumgarner was called upon to lift the Giants once again with everything on the line - and he delivered, shutting out the Kansas City Royals for five innings and silencing Kauffman Stadium with a 68-pitch performance that saw him retire 14 straight hitters along the way. Though the winning run ended up 90 feet from home plate, he recovered to earn the five-inning save and give the Giants a third title in six years - and of course, he was awarded World Series MVP honors for his Sandy Koufax-like performance.
(Videos courtesy: MLB.com)