The first one is in the books

A shaky start was offset by persistence and a late power burst. San Francisco survived illness, travel issues, brutal weather and probably a forced viewing of “Batman v Superman” to christen the 2016 season with a 12-3 pounding of the Brewers at Milwaukee.

Sick or not, MadBum is still MadBum. (SF Gate photo)

At the outset the Giants may have been longing for Arizona. The weather outside Miller Park would have made the Donner Party feel right at home. This after a mechanical foul-up delayed the team’s charter forced it to split into two units, arriving in Milwaukee in Monday’s wee hours. And did we mention that one of the transport vehicles from the airport to the Giants’ hotel died? Who hit the black cat with a mirror?

Inside the (thankfully) domed stadium it didn’t start auspiciously either. Denard Span’s deep drive to center rundown to start the contest and Buster Posey getting robbed at third to end the frame. Then Madison Bumgarner, battling the flu, proved to be his own worst enemy.

Bumgarner got touched up for a hard single by Domingo Santiago on his third pitch of the season. A walk followed to set the stage for early disaster. Bumgarner got Ryan Braun to fly out, but then lost the strike zone. Two more walks pushed across the first run and kept the bags filled, but defense stopped the bleeding on a 6-4-3 twin killing.

It was a pivotal moment. Milwaukee had a chance to go for the early knockout. Bumgarner survived, and the Giants punched back.

Then the Brewers remembered they’re rebuilding. Hunter Pence reached to open the second when Scooter Gennett booted his grounder. Brandon Belt belted (not the last time we’ll use that one) a double, followed by Matt Duffy’s two-run single (he was erased trying for two) that gave the Giants the lead.

It didn’t last. Gennett made up for his misplay with a rocket into the right field loge, his first-ever major league shot versus a lefty, tying the game again before San Francisco’s lead had survived a defensive out.

About that pitcher-hitting-eighth thing. It paid immediate dividends. Angel Pagan, batting ninth, opened the Giants’ third with a walk, stole second, and Span’s fist hit of the year also produced his first RBI to put the Giants back on top. Belt singled to bring home Span and produce a 4-2 lead, which was immediately cut in half when MadBum allowed another solo shot, this to Jonathan Villar, to open the Milwaukee third.

Busted. Posey applies the tag to Gennett. (SF Gate photo)

The Giants got the run back when Pagan and Span singled behind a walk to Bumgarner (told you we liked this 8-9 thing), giving the G-men tallies in three straight frames (Brewers’ starter Wily Peralta would be gone by the fifth). Milwaukee’s response died when Pagan gunned down Gennett trying to score to end the home fourth.

 applies nethe tag to Gen

Make it four straight innings with a tally, this a crooked number on Duffy’s two-run shot off Carlos Torres. It was 7-3 at the midway point, and the competitive part of the game was effectively over.

But the show was just starting. The Giants erupted for five in the eighth as Span, Joe Panik and Posey went back-to-back-to-back. Span’s three-run shot gave him five RBI for the day, and he wasn’t the only Giant with a big day.

Duffy drove in four and wound up 3-for-4, driving in four and scoring a run. Belt was 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored as he Giants pounded out 15 hits.

Span earns congrats after going deep. (SF Gate photo)

Bumgarner would last five, finishing with a flourish by striking out the side. He threw 101 pitches, 49 in the first two frames, before surrendering the game to the pen.  That’s more than we’d expect in an opener but manager Bruce Bochy was patient with horse, likely because (a) he was in line for a win, and (b) just because it’s Bumgarner. MadBum’s numbers: three runs on five hits and as many walks, striking out six.

Four relievers (George Kontos, Cory Gearrin, Hunter Strickland and Josh Osich) equally shared the final four frames.

Opening Day is out of the way. Adrenaline can subside and the grind begins. But for at least a day, the Giants are unbeaten, invincible, and on pace to win 162.

NOTE: we’ve enjoyed bringing you Opening Day thoughts but most posts will cover total series. This is a hobby, at least until such time as it pays for itself (hint: visit our sponsors and tell friends about us). Other thoughts, speculation and bad jokes will fill in the gaps, unless something catches our eye or honks us off, warranting special attention. Watch this space.

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