Giants Pull Even by Crushing Royals

The Kansas City Royals' bullpen had been brilliant this postseason, recording a 1.66 ERA and a .161 batting average heading into Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday in San Francisco.

But the Giants teed off on the Royals' relievers and evened the series at two games apiece by scoring nine runs over their last four at-bats to earn an 11-4 victory against Kansas City.

The Giants turned an early 4-1 deficit into a 4-4 tie before Pablo Sandoval singled home a pair to spark a three-run sixth. Joe Panik added a two-run double while the Giants scored four times in the seventh to go ahead 11-4.

Hunter Pence was 3-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Gregor Blanco was productive from the leadoff slot, collecting two hits and scoring three times.

Neither starting pitcher worked past the fifth inning. Royals hurler Jason Vargas was reached for three runs and six hits in four-plus innings. Giants starter Ryan Vogelsong was lifted in the third, charged with four runs and seven hits in 2 2/3 innings.

Yusmeiro Petit (yoos-MEHR'-oh peh-TEE') tossed three shutout innings to pick up the victory. Petit has allowed no runs and just three hits while striking out 13 over 12 innings in the postseason.

Loser Brandon Finnegan was rocked for five runs and five hits in just one inning of relief.

Omar Infante (ihn-FAHN'-tay) poked a two-run single and Eric Hosmer (HAHZ'-mur) had three hits and an RBI for the Royals.

Game 5 is Sunday in San Francisco, with Scott Shields going against Madison Bumgarner in a rematch of Game 1 starters.