Giants Blank Rangers 4-0 in World Series Game 4

The San Francisco Giants shut out the Texas Rangers for the second time in this World Series as they won 4-0 Sunday night in Texas. San Francisco leads the series 3-1.

Giants' rookie pitcher Madison Bumgarner gave up three hits in eight innings in a commanding performance and closer Brian Wilson finished off Texas with 11 pitches.

Aubrey Huff hit a long two-run homer off Tommy Hunter to put San Francisco ahead and the Giants made several fine defensive plays to preserve a 2-0 lead over the Texas Rangers after six innings in Game 4 of the World Series on Sunday night. Andres Torres knocked in Edgar Renteria in the seventh inning and Buster Posey clocked a solo shot in the eighth for San Francisco.

Andres Torres doubled off the first-base bag and down the right-field line leading off the third. Freddy Sanchez grounded out in a gritty nine-pitch at-bat before Huff sent the next pitch, Hunter's 62nd of the night, about 10 feet fair deep into the lower right-field stands.

Normally the Giants' first baseman, Huff was a designated hitter for the first time this year. He had gone 76 at-bats without a home run since Sept. 25.

Bumgarner struck out three and walked two, throwing 49 of 73 pitches for strikes and not allowing a runner past first base. The Rangers' first hit was an infield single by Michael Young leading off the fourth. Sanchez caught up with the grounder as he spun on the right-field grass, but the ball popped out of his glove. By the time he picked it up and threw to first, Young beat out a hit.

Sanchez made a smart tag on Young between first and second after Josh Hamilton's liner deflected off Bumgarner's glove to him, slapping the runner with his glove and he ran toward the infield side of the baseline in an attempt to evade. Rookie catcher Buster Posey threw out Hamilton trying to steal second.

Mitch Moreland singled with out one in the sixth, but speedy Elvis Andrus hit the Rangers' second double-play grounder - replays appeared to show Andrus beat shortstop Edgar Renteria's throw and that first-base umpire Jeff Kellogg got the call wrong.

Kellogg also appeared to miss a call in the second, when Andrus' throw from shortstop to first appeared to beat Travis Ishikawa for a 4-6-3 double play, but the runner was called safe.

Sanchez also made a leaping catch of Jeff Francoeur's liner to end the second with a man on. He snared the ball in the webbing of his glove at second, and with a large portion of the ball sticking out like an ice-cream cone, Sanchez displayed his prize.

Cody Ross made a shoestring catch on Kinsler's sinking liner to left in the fifth.

For Texas, Hamilton sprinted in from center to make a diving catch on Nate Schierholtz's short fly with runners at the corners and two outs in the first.

Hunter lasted just four innings, allowing five hits and throwing 83 pitches. He did not last past the fourth inning in any of his three postseason starts.

Alexi Ogando relieved but grabbed his left side after his second pitch to Juan Uribe with two outs in the sixth and left with a strained oblique. Ogando was replaced by Darren Oliver.

Texas was trying to tie the Series following its 4-2 win Saturday night, while the Giants were attempting to move within a win of their first title since 1954.

In Game 5 on Monday night, opening-game winner Tim Lincecum pitches for the Giants against Game 1 loser Cliff Lee.

It was only the third Halloween game in World Series history, following Game 4 in 2001 and Game 3 last year.

The father-and-son team of George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush threw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday night in what Major League Baseball said was the first time two former presidents attended a World Series game.

George W. Bush, the 43rd president and former Rangers owner, threw the pitch. His dad, the 41st president, was at his side.

San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy benched left fielder Pat Burrell, who is 0 for 9 with eight strikeouts in the Series. Schierholtz made his first start of the postseason in right, with Ross shifting to left.

Huff was the DH in place of Pablo Sandoval, and Ishikawa took over at first - his first start since Aug. 14.

With the Dallas Cowboys getting pummeled 35-17 by Jacksonville across the street, this was the third straight year that featured an NFL-World Series doubleheader at the same sports complex. There were Eagles-Phillies twinbills in Philadelphia in 2008 and 2009.