PITTSBURGH, Pa. Nate Schmidt Jersey . - Brandon Crawford figured the San Francisco Giants needed one run, maybe two, the way ace Madison Bumgarner was dealing.A grand slam provided all that and more, silencing a revved-up crowd and propelling San Francisco into the meat of the playoffs. Streaking in May and slumping in September, the Giants are back to their old resilient selves in October.Hey, its what they do this time of year.Crawfords slam off Edinson Volquez in the fourth inning led the Giants to an 8-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League wild-card game Wednesday night, sending San Francisco on to Washington for the best-of-five Division Series starting Friday.We thrive in these situations, Crawford said. I dont know what it is. We just keep fighting no matter what the circumstance.The Giants won their eighth consecutive post-season game and seventh straight with their season on the line, a streak that dates back to their run to a World Series title in 2012. While much work remains before they can start thinking about the franchises eighth championship, there was certainly a familiar feeling at PNC Park as San Francisco dismantled the Pirates.Weve been through it before, a lot of this team has, Brandon Belt said. We used that experience tonight. We know when we get in these situations were going to have a good ballclub.Particularly when Bumgarner is on the mound. He tossed a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts, needing 109 pitches to put a quick end to Pittsburghs second straight playoff appearance.Mixing his fastball with a slider and curve the Pirates rarely touched, Bumgarner was in complete control and looked very much like the ace who won 18 games during San Franciscos bumpy regular season.If you dont want to pitch in these games, you probably need to find something else to do, he said.No chance of that for Bumgarner or the rest of a roster that flourishes once the calendar flips past September. Crawfords grand slam was the first in post-season history by a shortstop a€” and he wasnt aiming for the fences.With the bases loaded in the fourth and nobody out in a scoreless game, Crawford turned on Volquezs hanging breaking ball and sent it to right. Pittsburghs Travis Snider waited to play it off the wall. He never got the chance, instead slumping his shoulders as the ball landed a couple of rows deep to give the Giants a 4-0 lead that felt considerably larger.I was in shock a little bit, Crawford said.So were the Pirates, who never recovered. One night after Kansas City edged Oakland in a thrilling start to baseballs post-season, this one was over by the middle innings.Overpowering one of the NLs best lineups, Bumgarner walked one and threw 79 strikes in his latest stellar October performance. The big left-hander, who allowed only four singles, has thrown 15 scoreless innings in two World Series starts.We got outplayed tonight, Pittsburgh second baseman Neil Walker said. Bumgarner went out there, he did what he wanted to do. He put up the strike zone and he made it tough on us.Belt drove in three runs as the Giants padded the lead late. By then the black-clad crowd that began the night in a frenzy was watching in dismayed silence.Weve been there before, Belt said. Its a lot of fun when youre on the road. ... You know youre doing something good when the crowd goes silent.Volquez was trying to cap his comeback season by sending Pittsburgh to the NLDS for the second straight year, but he couldnt match Bumgarner.The right-hander cruised until the fourth, when a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases with none out. Hed retired Crawford 19 of the 22 times hed faced him during his career.Its the 24th that hell remember.I tried to bounce it down, back foot, and the ball just kept going, Volquez said. Bad spot.That was more than enough for Bumgarner. Pittsburgh, fourth in the majors in extra-base hits this season, rarely hit the ball hard.Bumgarner was helped by his defence, too. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval a€” all 245 pounds of him a€” flipped over the railing in front of the Pittsburgh dugout to track down a foul popup off the bat of Russell Martin.Sandoval landed on his feet, a perfect symbol of San Franciscos seemingly endless resiliency when October rolls around.Back in the playoffs after winning the World Series in 2010 and 2012, the Giants are looking to continue their every-other-year success.Pittsburgh, on the other hand, was unable to duplicate last years victory over Cincinnati in the wild-card game that followed a 21-year playoff drought. Playing before raucous crowds at PNC Park, the Pirates pushed St. Louis to a decisive Game 5 before losing their NLDS.This year, Pittsburgh went 17-9 in September while taking the Cardinals to the final day of the season in an attempt to win the NL Central.There will be no extended playoff stay this time after Crawfords grand slam, the fourth in Giants post-season history.Shortstop had been the only position a€” including pitcher a€” without a slam in post-season play.Thats crazy, Crawford said. With all the great shortstops that have played before, thats pretty special. Im happy to be able to do it.TRAINERS ROOMGiants: OF Michael Morse was left off the wild-card roster while he recovers from a strained oblique that has sidelined him since Sept. 20. Manager Bruce Bochy said the veteran would be activated at some point in the next round.UP NEXTIts on to Washington for the Giants, where they will face rookie manager Matt Williams and the Nationals. Williams was once a star third baseman for San Francisco.The Giants went 2-5 against Washington this season, getting outscored 41-30. Nick Holden Golden Knights Jersey . Almost 40 years to the day, the two teams will meet again, this time at BC Place, to celebrate the past and try to earn important points for the present. Deryk Engelland Jersey .com) - Australian Open champion Li Na, former Wimbledon winner Petra Kvitova and former world No. http://www.goldenknightssale.com/authentic-shea-theodore-golden-knights-jersey/ .Kessy tried to show what he can do playing left wing for the Oilers in 5-0 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday in pre-season action. SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The start of the San Francisco 49ers three-day mandatory minicamp was overshadowed by the players who were absent. Two-time Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis and right guard Alex Boone skipped Tuesdays activities. Both starters are seeking raises despite two years left on their contracts. Cornerback Eric Wright, a seven-year veteran who played in seven games for the 49ers last season, announced his retirement. Wright said in a statement released through the team that he "no longer had the same passion" for the game. While Wrights announcement came as a surprise in the locker room, Davis and Boone are far bigger contributors to a 49ers team that has Super Bowl aspirations. Coach Jim Harbaugh said he appreciates players who show up for the voluntary workouts in the off-season but expects everybody in attendance for the mandatory meetings. He said he was disappointed that Davis and Boone are not at the minicamp. "Not the decision that I envisioned being the 49er way," Harbaugh said. "Really nothing more to be said about it. The focus will be on whats going on here." Players can be fined nearly $70,000 if they miss all three days of the minicamp, per the NFLs collective bargaining agreement. If Davis and Boone continue to hold out, they set the stage for what could be a major distraction leading into training camp next month for a franchise that has avoided such contract disputes the past few seasons under Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke. Neither Davis nor Boone was present during the first eight weeks of the teams voluntary program. Davis sacrificed a $200,000 bonus and Boone $50,000 for missing the workouts. And while both are seeking new deals, Davis has been the most vocal about his situation. "In 2010 I signed a five-year, $37 million contract extension with $23 million guaranteed. It was the biggest contract for a tight end in league history. Four years later, and Im playing at a higher level than I was then, which brings me to why Im holding out," Davis wrote in a guest column for MMQB.com on Monday. "Its all about getting paid what you deserve. Its not that complicated. I want the 49ers to win the Super Bowl, and I want to be on the field this summer working toward that goal, but I have to worry about my future first." "Most of my teammates and many players in the NFL understand that. A few dont," Davis continued. "Behind closed doors, theylll say theyre all about the team and would run through a brick wall for the organization. Alex Tuch Jersey. But when you look closer, theyre doing things to contradict themselves. I cant listen to anyone but my family and my advisors, because those are the people who are going to be there when football inevitably dumps me." Davis, who initially acted coy about skipping the teams voluntary off-season program, began making his displeasure known shortly before the 49ers announced they had given quarterback Colin Kaepernick a six-year contract extension through the 2020 season that could be worth up to $126 million. Davis, who is now 30 years old, had 52 catches for 850 yards and accounted for 13 of Kaepernicks 21 touchdown passes last season. The tight end has repeatedly talked about marketing his "brand" this off-season after signing a deal with Fantex, which sells shares of Davis "stock" to investors. The San Francisco company paid Davis $4 million in return for 10 per cent of his future earnings from football, commercial endorsements and other jobs that he may get during the remainder of his life. The 27-year-old Boone signed a contract extension while he was a backup tackle in November 2011. He has two years remaining on the deal, which will reportedly pay him $2.25 million this season and $1.45 million next season. Most of their teammates responded in similar fashion when asked about their absences -- saying its a decision each player has to make on their own. Second-year safety Eric Reid, whose locker is next to Wrights, said it was a little surprising when he heard Wright was considering not playing anymore. Wright had been competing for the job vacated by former starters Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown, who both signed with the Oakland Raiders in free agency. The 49ers are treating minicamp as an opportunity for others to make an impact. Vance McDonald and Garrett Celek are expected to receive most of the practice repetitions behind Davis at tight end. Joe Looney is competing at the guard spot, while tackle Jonathan Martin is receiving some time at guard. Daniel Kilgore also can play centre and guard. Tramaine Brock, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, Chris Cook, Darryl Morris and rookies Dontae Johnson and Kenneth Acker are competing at cornerback. "Its next man up," 49ers offensive co-ordinator Greg Roman said. "Thats how it goes." ' ' '