SAN FRANCISCO — It is hard to think of a 23-year-old turning back the clock, but that is exactly what Madison Bumgarner did Thursday night.
The San Francisco left-hander pitched as if it were 2010 again, working seven scoreless innings as the Giants edged the Detroit Tigers 2-0 in Game 2 of the World Series at AT&T Park.
The Giants lead the best-of-seven series 2-0.
Bumgarner was awful in his first two postseason starts this year, losing both and allowing 10 runs in eight innings for an 11.25 ERA. However, he flashed his form from 2010, when he pitched eight shutout innings to beat the Texas Rangers in Game 4 of a World Series the Giants won in five games for their first title in 56 years.
Bumgarner allowed just two hits Thursday while striking out eight and walking two.
Santiago Casilla and Sergio Romo finished the shutout by pitching one perfect inning each. Romo recorded the save.
Detroit was shut out just twice in the regular season, the fewest in the major leagues.
The Tigers never had an at-bat with a runner on third base against Bumgarner.
Detroit missed its only chance to score off the lefty in the second inning. Prince Fielder was thrown out at home on a strong relay throw by Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro as Fielder tried to score from first base on Delmon Young’s double with no outs. Jhonny Peralta popped out and Avisail Garcia struck out to end the inning.
Doug Fister took the loss, though he shut out the Giants through six innings before they broke through with a run in the seventh.
Fister was lifted after Hunter Pence led off by grounding a single into left field. Rookie left-hander Drew Smyly relieved, and the Giants loaded the bases on a walk to Brandon Belt and a bunt single by Gregor Blanco that hugged the third base line.
Brandon Crawford bounced into a double play, but Pence scored the game’s first run.
Pence drove in the Giants’ other run with a sacrifice fly off Octavio Dotel in the eighth. That scored Angel Pagan, who drew a leadoff walk from Smyly and stole second base.
Fister gave up one run and four hits in six innings with one walk and three strikeouts.
Fister survived a scary moment in the second inning when he was struck in the side of the head by a line drive off the bat of Blanco, with the ball going into center field for a single. Crawford then walked to load the bases with two outs, but Bumgarner popped out to the shortstop to end the inning, beginning a stretch of 10 consecutive batters set down by Fister.
The series shifts to Detroit after a travel day Friday. Game 3 is scheduled to begin at 8:07 p.m. ET Saturday, with Ryan Vogelsong pitching for the Giants against the Tigers’ Anibal Sanchez.