Bruce Bochy to Stick with Ryan Vogelsong for Game 4 of the #WorldSeries

After watching the Kansas City Royals just destroy both the Angels and the Orioles, I'm not surprised now that the Giants are down 2-1 in the World Series. I've got a grudging admiration for Kansas City, the problem is, they're just not my team. And as a Californian I'd obviously prefer San Francisco, especially considering their own fairy tale victories in the National League playoffs. It's been some great baseball this year.

But pitching is killing the Giants. No one can beat Madison Bumgarner, but after that it's anyone's guess if the Giants got game, even with home-field advantage.

So we'll see. Game 4 is starting right now.

In the meanwhile, here's Bill Shaikin, at LAT, "Royals getting harder to deal with, beat Giants and lead World Series":

Vogelsong and the #SFGiants try to tie up the #WorldSeries in Game 4 at 5 PT. http://t.co/C2cW85bk3j #OctoberTogether pic.twitter.com/gwImxsJoMK

— #OctoberTogether (@SFGiants) October 25, 2014

SAN FRANCISCO — Zack Greinke asked out of Kansas City four years ago. He was in the prime of his career. He would not sign a new contract with the Royals because he wanted to win and, as he told anyone who asked, he did not believe the Royals could win.

Greinke has taken his talents to the Milwaukee Brewers, to the Angels, and to the Dodgers. He has yet to pitch in the World Series.

And just look at the team he jilted now. The Royals are halfway to the World Series championship.

Alcides Escobar, one of the players the Royals acquired for Greinke, got two hits and scored two runs Friday. Lorenzo Cain, another of the players in the trade, drove in a run and made two splendid catches in right field. And Kansas City got four hitless innings out of its splendid bullpen to close out a 3-2 victory over the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 of the World Series.

The Royals lead the Series, two games to one. The record of the largely anonymous underdog Kansas City squad this postseason: 10-1.

"There's no intimidation on this team," Cain said. "No one's intimidated. It's just a baseball game."

The only pitcher to beat the Royals in the postseason: Giants ace Madison Bumgarner. Although another loss would put the Giants on the verge of elimination, Manager Bruce Bochy said he would stick with Ryan Vogelsong for Game 4 — even though Bumgarner said he would be willing to start on short rest.

"It's not like he pushed real hard," Bochy said.

More.

Bumgarner can of course start Game 5, and it's a good thing too. No matter what happens, the Giants will head back to Kansas City, where the Royals may well be able to finish them off.