Bumgarner continues to be the hard-luck guy

Five nights ago Madison Bumgarner couldn't get that big hit. On Saturday he gave it up. One inning and one swing of the bat made all the difference as San Francisco saw a four-game win streak snapped at the hands of the Phillies, 3-2.

You know, if nobody looks maybe it'll just go away. (AP Photo)

Madison, the condolence card is from Matt Cain. With Cain out of the lineup, the hard-luck mojo seems to have fallen to MadBum, who took a two-hit shutout into the seventh but gave up three runs in the span of four hitters and that was enough to sink him his fourth loss of 2016.

The evening’s saving grace was LA’s 6-1 drubbing at Pittsburgh. The Giants thus maintained their seven game lead in the NL West slipping to a paltry 20 games over .500 at 48-28.

The left-hander struck out seven and walked one and probably deserved better just as payback for previous work.  Bumgarner hadn’t given up more than two runs in an outing since April 15. His 1.99 ERA is a team best, yet he’s dropped to straight and won just twice in his last five games – all while the team is on a 31-10 run. His last outing was that maddening 1-0 complete-game setback at Pittsburgh.

No, you can’t win them all, but the Giants had won 12 of 13 coming in (and we know who got the loss) while the visiting Phils had dropped 10 of 11. Opposing starter Jeremy Hellickson hadn’t won since May 18 but gave up just two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings.

Just grit your teeth and move on. (AP Photo)

Can someone get Crash Davis to take the curse off this guy?

It seemed he’d have a better night based on early returns. Buster Posey got the Giants offense started with a lead-off single in the second. Posey headed for third when the still-hot Angel Pagan rifled a liner toward the left field corner. Running like a catcher, Posey beat the throw with a slide as Pagan trailed the play into second. Ramiro Pena whiffed on a curve in the dirt but MadBum walked to load the bases. Helickson nibbled, because nobody messes with MadBum anymore.

Hellickson had to feel pretty good about his situation when Gregor Blanco hit a nubber to first. Tommy Joseph, the former Giants farmhand, booted it. The Giants left ducks on the pond when Denard Span lined out, but at 1-0 Bumgarner already had more support than in his last start.

There were more freakish goings-on in home half of the third. Joe Panik ripped a laser over the bag at first, but the sure double rolled a Yahtzee on umpire Bruce Eddings and Panik was limited to a single. Brandon Belt got Panik to third with a single of his own, and Posey chased home the run with a sacrifice fly.

Two runs? For Bumgarner this had to be ecstasy.

The Phils finally dented the big lefty in the seventh. Joseph opened up with a double off the cars and came around to score on a one-out single by Andres Blanco. Cameron Rupp made the hurt big, launching one into the sustainable garden on Bumgarner's 107th and final pitch to put the Giants in a 3-2 hole.

After 6 1/3 innings, Bumgarner's streak of 12 games with two or fewer runs allowed, tied for third best in franchise history, was itself history.

Yeah, that's the guy who did it. AP Photo)

The heart of San Francisco’s order had a chance to get him off the hook in the eighth. Panik started off with a bloop single and took a free 90 when reliever David Hernandez sent a pitch to the backstop. Posey then drew a one-out walk to put the potential go-ahead run on base for Brandon Crawford.

And it blew up. Crawford's sinking liner to left was grabbed on a slide by Tyler Goeddel. Panik misread it and was easy double-play fodder. End of rally.

Phillies closer Jeanmar Gomez put the Giants to bed in the ninth and the Giants dropped to even on the series and the homestand.

The Giants were limited to six hits, five of them singles. Panik was the only player to enjoy a multi-hit game.

The Giants will look to take the series on Sunday with Johnny Cueto (11-1, 2.06 ERA) taking the ball. He’s won his last eight decisions and the Giants have won 13 of his 15 starts but he’s just 1-4 with a 5.05 ERA against the Phillies in nine tries. Aaron Nola (5-7. 4.11) has been getting ripped of late, going winless with a 15.22 ERA over his last three starts.

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