Bats take a holiday as Bumgarner silences Chicago

Madison Bumgarner told the media he isn't at his best, and it's true that at times he doesn't look like himself. The guy he does look like? That guy is still better than most.

Sunday at AT&T Park, Bumgarner outdueled Chicago's Kyle Hendricks with 7 2/3 innings of shut-out ball, then drove in the only run of the game as the Giants took Chicago 1-0. The Giants have won 10 of 11 and took two of three from the team that sports the best record in baseball. 

He who apparently is not Madison Bumgarner tamed the Cubs. (Getty Images)

At 27-19, the Orange and Black lead the NL West by four games over Colorado and 4 1/2 over The Hated Dodgers.

It has been an impressive run for the Giants, who have flourished despite an extended lack of offense. The trend continued as the Giants used arms, leather and timely hits rather than a bulk of them to subdue to opposition.

Both squads threatened early but failed to capitalize. In the Cubs' case, the inability to capitalize turned out to be fatal.

Bumgarner looked destined for a quick first inning, getting two quick outs and getting ahead of Kris Bryant, but Bumgarner's 1-2 curve hit Bryant in the foot. A single and walk followed to load the bases, and MadBum needed eight pitches before getting Addison Russell looking on a 3-2 cutter.

"Fine. I'll do it myself."

Like someone who got an 11th-hour reprieve from the governor, Bumganer had a new lease on life. The 28-pitch first inning was followed by frames of 13, 13 and nine pitches to get back on track. At one point he retired 16 hitters in succession and didn't throw his 100th pitch until the eighth.

Bumgarner left after walking Anthony Rizzo with two gone in the eighth (Cory Gearrin got the third out on one pitch, a liner to short), having allowed just one run on three hits with 6 Ks and 2 BB. And he claims to be struggling. He's now 6-2 with a 2.17 ERA over 10 starts. In 66 1/3 innings pitched he has allowed only 21 runs and averages under a base runner (0.97) per inning.

God help the opposition if he ever gets right.

He also got by with a little help from his friends. Every member of the infield had a highlight play: Brandon Belt with scoops at first, Joe Panik at second and Matt Duffy at third with diving stops, shortstop Brandon Crawford played thief deep in the hole, and catcher Buster Posey went over the Cubs' dugout rail to snag a pop foul. 

Teammates like Matt Duffy contributed the leather. (AP Photo)

Oh, did we mention Bumgarner hits, too? On Saturday it was Matt Cain breaking the ice with an RBI two-bagger. A day later the Giants' best-hitting pitcher followed suit.

Gregor Blanco led off the fifth with a walk and Bumgarner was called upon to bunt. He failed to do so -- or did he? With his hitter down in the count, Manager Bruce Bochy took off the bunt and put Blanco in motion, which allowed him to score easily when Bumgarner lined a leaky fastball beyond the reach of Jorge Soler in left for an RBI-double.

Looking for more scoring? Look elsewhere. The teams combined for just seven hits with the Giants' four highlighted by Bumgarner's' double. The remaining hits came from two guys who, at one point on the last road trip, were a combined 0-for-31 af the plate. Panik doubled and singled, and Duffy had one-bagger.

Good thing the Giants brought their gloves. The game (and the hot streak) was dominated by pitching and defense .. not that Santiago Casilla didn't try to screw it up. 

The least confidence-inspiring Giants closer since Matt Herges gave up a deep drive to center to open the ninth, a ball on which Denard Span made a circus catch. Casilla went 3-1 before rallying to strike out Soler, then got Russell swinging to end it. It was Russell's fourth strikeout of the night.

The quest continues Monday as the Giants host San Diego, which by now has to be sick to death of a team that has already swept it twice this year.

The Friars send out Drew Pomeranz (4-4, 1.97) who has suffered two of his four losses to the Giants. San Francisco counters with Johnny Cueto (6-1, 2.70) whose in two starts against the Padres has allowed but one run while requiring no help from the pen.

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