The Skillz Report

Here, in Part 9 of our 2014 MLB Postseason retrospective, we'll revisit the World Series (SF/KC).

Hunter Pence Goes Deep, Game 1

Four batters into the 2014 World Series, San Francisco led 1-0—until Pence smacked a full-count heater from KC starter James Shields over the CF wall. Just like that, the Royals faced a 3-0 hole before even coming to bat.

Perez Fouls A Bounced Pitch, Game 1

In the 4th, Salvador Perez (pictured homering in the 7th) was fooled by a two-strike Madison Bumgarner 59-footer. But just as Kolten Wong did in the NLCS, he still fouled it! Ump Jerry Meals initially signaled K, but once the umps huddled, Perez was given another chance to strike out...which he soon did to end the 4th.

Joe Panik triples thru Aoki, Game 1

By the 7th, the Giants were up 5-0 and after more. Facing lefty Danny Duffy with 0 out, Panik ripped a breaking ball to RCF. Aoki—not uncommonly—took a poor route to the ball, which fell and skipped past him as he slipped to the ground. Gregor Blanco scored run #6 from first base.

Gregor Blanco's Leadoff HR, Game 2

The little guy somehow turned around a 98-mph Yordano Ventura fastball, the eighth pitch of an impressive at-bat. Blanco's unexpected jolt gave Jake Peavy and the Giants a quick 1-0 lead.

Brandon Belt Erased, Game 2

The big first baseman stood on second, having just ripped a 4th-inning, game-tying double. The next batter, Mike Morse, flew out to right. When RF Aoki's wild throw was kicked around the infield, an indecisive Belt was caught too far off base and tagged out—costing SF an opportunity to re-take the lead.

Santiago Perez Two-Run 2B, Game 2

Facing Hunter Strickland in the 6th with KC up 3-2 , Perez received a 1-2 heater on the outside corner and somehow smoked it to the left of dead-center field—beating a slight shift by Giants' CF Blanco. Eric Hosmer and Terrence Gore both raced home.

Omar Infante Blows It Open, Game 2

Following Perez's hit, Infante made Strickland pay for a 1-0 mistake fastball down the pipe with a bomb over the LF fence. KC now led 7-2, all but ensuring victory with their "Back End Boys" (Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland) looming.

Strickland/Perez Tiff, Game 2

Much has been made of Strickland's struggles with the home run ball this postseason; after surrendering Infante's, the frustration boiled over. Initially yelling at himself, a heated Stickland jawed at a confused Perez, who gave it back. As benches began to clear. Strickland was removed, and peace prevailed.

Tim Lincecum's Injury, Game 2

In three short years, "The Freak" has gone from undisputed Giants ace and potential Hall-Of-Famer to the forgotten man on the Giants' staff, only called upon in garbage time. The 7th inning of Game 2 was one of those times—and Lincecum threw well, retiring all five batters he faced before back pain forced him out of the game. Other than warmups, he would not appear again in the Series.

Tim Hudson's WS Debut, Game 3

Six years in Oakland. Nine more in Atlanta. Exactly ZERO trips out of the first round. Hudson, 39, signed with the Giants with the hopes of making a World Series. Not only did that happen, but Hudson—among the NL's best during the first half of '14—was tabbed to start Game 3! He went five-plus game innings, and though he took the loss, surely it beat losing in the first round.

Eric Hosmer's Epic At-Bat, Game 3

Though the slugging KC first baseman stood hitless in his first eight World Series at-bats, Hosmer still posed a huge threat. So when he came to bat in the 6th with a man on and KC up 2-0, in came Giants lefty neutralizer Javier Lopez to face him. Hosmer fought off pitch after pitch until he finally poked Lopez's 11th toss to the outfield to drive in what wound up the decisive run.

Mike Morse's Pinch-Double, Game 3

Rusty defensively, "The Beast" settled for pinch-hit duty during World Series home games. More than capable of late-inning heroics off the bench—see 2014 NLCS Game 5—Morse was called upon in the 6th with a man on and SF down 3-0. He drilled a Jeremy Guthrie pitch down the line to put his team on the board and bring the AT&T crowd to life.

Pablo Sandoval's Streak Ends, Game 3

San Francisco's third baseman reached base in 25 consecutive postseason games (final two of 2012 NLDS, all seven of 2012 NLCS, all four of 2012 WS, 2014 WC, all four of 2014 NLDS, all five of 2014 NLCS, and first two of 2014 WS) before Guthrie and crew snapped his streak. Facing supercloser Holland with two outs in the 9th, Sandoval's final chance to maintain it ended with a tapout to the mound.

Royals KO Vogelsong, Game 4

Giants SP Ryan Vogelsong led 1-0 thru 3.2 innings when it all came apart. With men on the corners, Hosmer hit a weak tapper into the "triangle" between the mound, first and second. Vogey pursued it in vain before redirecting to cover first. By then, it was too late—instead of out #3, Hosmer was safe as the tying run scored. Frazzled, the veteran righty took three more runs of damage and was pulled.

Yusmeiro Petit Gets A Hit! Game 4

Just as Deion Sanders' "tackling" was excused due to his cover skillz, the Giants excuse Petit's "hitting" due to his mound abilities. In the 4th inning, the career .049 hitter pulled off both—singling off KC's Jason Vargas. Though he didn't score, Petit could take pride in being the first World Series reliever since 1993 to hit safely (Toronto's Al Leiter, Game 3 double off Phillie Roger Mason.)

Jarrod Dyson Saves Disaster, Gsme 4

Entering the 5th, the Royals held a 4-2 lead. But the Giants rallied—scoring once and loading the bases with just one out. Facing Duffy, Juan Perez drove one to shallow center that seemed destined to fall...until the fleet Dyson charged in to make a sensational diving catch! Pence did tag up and score the tying run; Dyson's effort prevented more damage. For a while.

San Francisco's Explosion, Game 4

Five innings from a 3-1 series deficit, the Giants' offense busted out. They plated two in the 5th, three more in the 6th, and four more in the 7th—all unanswered—to put Game 4 out of reach. Panik, Sandoval and Pence (pictured) each gained two RBI during the outburst. Royal relievers Brandon Finnegan (5 ER) and Tim Collins (2 ER) each took one for the team, which was at least able to rest the "Back End Boys".

Brandon Belt's Bunt Hit, Game 5

The big 1B had never done so successfully in four MLB seasons, but with 0 out in the 2nd and Pence on first, Belt bunted against an exaggerated Royals shift—just beating the throw to first. His effort helped push Pence around with the Giants' first run, precious in such a tight game.

Juan Perez's Clutch Double, Game 5

Early in Game 5, the world learned of Cardinals OF Oscar Taveras' death. When word reached Giants OF Perez—a friend of Taveras—he was understandably emotional. Facing the tough Davis in the 8th inning with SF up 2-0, Perez channeled his grief into a drive that barely missed clearing the CF wall. He settled for doubling home two vital insurance runs (and taking third on the throw home).

Bumgarner Goes Nine, Game 5

SF needed innings from their star lefty in Game 5...so he gave them nine, which probably sufficed. Bumgarner allowed four hits, struck out eight and threw 84 of 117 pitches for strikes. His effort sent the Giants back to Kansas City with the series lead—and a fully rested bullpen.

Royals' Big 2nd Inning, Game 6

In Graig Nettles' autobiography, he talks of losing a 2-1 game vs. losing an 18-2 game. In the former, players rehash what could have been done differently to affect the outcome. In the latter—there was nothing to be done except take the beating. KC's Game 6 stomping of SF fit that profile, kicked off by a seven-run 2nd the Giants were powerless to stop. (Photo: Billy Butler rips an RBI double.)

Ventura Shuts Giants Down, Game 6

Many rookies starting an elimination World Series game would buckle under the pressure. Yordano Ventura isn't just any rookie. The electric Royals starter blazed through the Giants lineup for seven innings, getting stronger as the game went on (two 100-mph pitches in the 7th!). Had five walks not risen his pitch count, Ventura might have gone the distance.

Sandoval Grazed By Pitch, Game 7

Almost as important as any of Sandoval's World Series hits: slightly leaning his shoulder into an 0-1 Guthrie cutter in the 2nd. Just a graze, sure, but just as good as a heater to the ribs—Panda took first base and eventually scored the Giants' first run, crucial in what ended up a tight game.

Salvador DRILLED By Pitch, Game 7

Early in the game, TSR tweeted about the movement on Hudson's pitches. Perez can certainly back that up. In the 2nd, Hudson's first pitch to Perez ran in...and in...and buried itself into the back of Perez' left leg. It was several minutes before the Royals catcher could will himself to walk (gingerly) to first base. Though left limping, Perez never left Game 7.

Panik's Amazing Double Play, Game 7

If Bumgarner was the Most Valuable Player of the WS, Panik turned in the Most Valuable Play of Game 7. Tied 2-2 in the 3rd, Giants RP Jeremy Affeldt faced Hosmer with a man on first. Hosmer grounded what looked like a sure hit up the middle...until Panik dove and flung the ball with his glove to second to start what ended up a (replay-aided) double play!

Morse Go-Ahead RBI, Game 7

Morse's memorable NLCS home run was the biggest hit of his career...for about a week. Then the Giants DH faced flamethrower Herrera in the 4th inning of Game 7 with men on the corners and one out. Herrera got two quick strikes on Morse, then came in with a fastball—that Morse muscled to right field for what proved to be the game-winning run.

Gordon Shreds Outfielders, Game 7

Gordon might tell his grandkids that in the '14 World Series, with KC traileing 3-2 and two outs in the 9th. he tripled so hard two outfielders couldn't stop it. The truth is: Gordon dumped a single to center that one fielder botched and another fumbled—putting him 90 feet from tying the game! But Gordon would be stranded, lamenting his lack of Dyson-level speed.

Bumgarner's Five-Inning Save, Game 7

"Will Bochy start Bumgarner in Game 4 on three days' rest?" asked everyone. When he didn't: "Will Bochy use Bumgarner in Game 7 on two days rest?" He hoped not, but when Hudson lasted 28 pitches and Affeldt was maximized, in came the big lefty. Originally given the W, Bumgarner later settled for a record-long save (5 IP) and a Series MVP nod.

Pablo Sandoval's Last Stand? Game 7

The seven-year vet's contract expired after the World Series, and there's no guarantee he'll be back in San Francisco for 2015. If not, he sure left Giants fans wanting more. The Panda wrapped up a .429 World Series by going 3-for-3 with the aforementioned HBP in Game 7—and fittingly, caught Perez's foul pop for the final out.

Josh Willingham's Last Stand

KC's veteran slugger has said 2014 would be his 12th and final season; Royals manager Ned Yost made sure to get Willingham a couple of at-bats (he struck out as a PH in both Games 1 and 2). He hit 195 homers with the Marlins, Nats, A's, Twins and Royals—two of which were grand slams in the same 2009 game.