WORLD SERIES RECAP

Giants rookie Panik contributes key fielding gem

The Sports Xchange

October 29, 2014 at 10:34 pm.

Oct 29, 2014; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals right fielder Norichika Aoki (23) is forced out on a fielder's choice by San Francisco Giants second baseman Joe Panik (top) in the first inning during game seven of the 2014 World Series at Kauffman Stadium. Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner received loads of accolades for his performance in the 2014 World Series, as he should.

Bumgarner was an easy choice for Most Valuable Player, but an assist could go to rookie second baseman Joe Panik, who made a stunning defensive play Wednesday in the Giants’ 3-2 win over the Kansas City Royals in Game 7.

Panik played a key role for the Giants, who claimed their third World Series championship in five years.

Hitting in the second spot in the lineup, Panik batted only .222 with two doubles and a triple against the Royals. However, his defense was stellar, including a gem in the bottom of the third of a 2-2 game Wednesday.

Kansas City center fielder Lorenzo Cain led off with a single. First baseman Eric Hosmer hit a scorching drive up the middle, and Panik tried to knock it down and possibly get the lead runner. He did more than that.

Panik speared the ball, then, while on his stomach, flipped it from his glove to shortstop Brandon Crawford, who threw to first baseman Brandon Belt for the double play.

Originally Hosmer was called safe, but San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy challenged the ruling, and it was overturned.

“(Hosmer) hit it well, kind of shot it through the middle,” Panik said. “I told myself to dive and try to knock it down and try to get one. The way Crawford turned it over was great. I thought (Hosmer) was out (at first). I pumped my fist.”

Panik said that the middle infielders don’t practice that play, at least not the diving and flipping parts.

“No, it was instinctual,” he said. “It’s the first time I’ve ever done something like that. I was a shortstop growing up, and it’s a different kind of play from there. You work on it standing up, but on the ground, you just try to get one.”

Panik is one of seven Giants who made their postseason debuts in 2014. He said the veterans on the club helped him get acclimated to the majors, and they made him feel a part of things from the beginning.

“It’s a great clubhouse with a great bunch of guys,” he said. “They made it easy for me. They know what they’re doing, and they showed me that I just had to do my thing.”

Much of that veteran leadership came from the manager’s office. Bochy became just the second manager in New York/San Francisco Giants history to win three World Series championships (John McGraw in 1905, 1921 and 1922). He told his players before the game that they could make history.

The last team to win Game 7 of the World Series on the road was the Pittsburgh Pirates, who defeated the Baltimore Orioles in 1979. Nine consecutive road teams lost Game 7 before the Giants’ victory Wednesday night.

“He told us, ‘You’ve done it before,'” Panik said of Bochy’s pregame speech. “‘You did it in Pittsburgh (in the National League wild-card game), you won two in Washington (in the NL Division Series), and you took Game 1 in St. Louis (in the NL Championship Series). There’s no reason you can’t win it here.'”

Panik did not arrive on the scene in San Francisco until June 21. He started slowly but finished the season on a .345 tear (67-for-194) beginning Aug. 4.

He impressed his teammates from the beginning. Wednesday night proved no different.

“It was a pretty outstanding play, especially by a rookie,” Belt said. “I know the grass was wet and the ball could skip. (Panik) did an unbelievable job. Then Crawford turned it. It was a great play.”

Now the rookie, who turns 24 on the day after the World Series ended, is a world champion.

“Words can’t describe it,” he said. “It was intense. It was a great atmosphere. Kansas City fans were great. Every little thing mattered. It really helps to have experienced guys.

“It’s unbelievable. To call yourself a world champion is something you always dream of as a kid. It hasn’t settled in yet.”

It will soon, just as Hosmer’s hard shot settled into his glove.