Crooked numbers have been hard to come by for the Giants offense. During Madison Bumgarner's starts they've been sighted about as often as Haley's Comet or a bad Pronto Pizza (if you live in South City, you know). The Giants posted three of them Friday night, then survived yet another bullpen misadventure in a much-needed 6-2 win over Baltimore down at The Big Phone.
Denard Span had a pair of two-run singles and Brandon Belt went deep as the Giants broke a funk that had seen them give their ace one run or less in three of his last five outings. Twice he'd gone the distance only to lose despite giving up just three runs combined in those to efforts.
Bumgarner (11-7) yielded three hits and as many walks over seven frames, notching eight strikeouts. Counterpart Kevin Gausman had a decidedly different experience.
For much of the game the Giants still appeared, shall we say, challenged. Gausman gave up just two hits over his four innings or work but walked six. That San Francisco didn't generate more from that bounty speaks volumes about the team's recent struggles.
Buzzard's luck also had something to do with it. Twice Joe Panik laced a double that hopped the wall, denying a runner on first the chance to score. Fortunately Span came through on both occasions, lacing two-out hits to produce the runs. Both outbursts, one in the second and another in the sixth, followed the same recipe: a walk, a Panik ground-rule two-bagger, and a two-run single from the center fielder.
The two spot in the seventh changed up the ingredients. Angel Pagan walked, then Brandon Belt yanked a Ubaldo Jimenez offering into the arcade. For Bumgarner the 6-0 lead was an embarrassment of riches.
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| Panik and Pence both score. There is much rejoicing...and shock. (Getty Images) |
The Orioles had only one serious threat against Bumgarner, and it was one of those once-in-a-blue-moon circumstances that somehow seem to happen to the Giants every night. A one-out walk to JJ Hardy in the sixth was followed by Manny Machado's drive to deep center. Now it would have been an SC Top 10 catch, but when the ball hits the pocket of your glove you damn well better catch it. Span didn't, and the O's had two in scoring position with Mark Trumbo at the plate.
Bumgarner got the MLB home run leader to foul out but walked Jonathan Schoop to load bases for Chris Davis. Davis has power but MadBum eats lefties for breakfast. The battle of wills lasted three pitches, with Bumgarner winning on a called strike three.
With a six-run edge, manager Bruce Bochy opted to save some bullets and turned the game over to Derek Law. His 10-pitch eighth ran a personal streak of hitters retired to 19. Then the wheels started to come off because nothing is easy with this crew. Sergio Romo struck out a pair in the ninth but then walked Davis and Javy Lopez was called upon to get the final out.
He failed miserably. An infield single and a walk loaded the bags before pinch hitter Ryan Flaherty singled in two. Santiago Casilla, who should have been enjoying a piña colada in a six-run game instead had to close it out, getting Adam Jones on a grounder to make Bumgarner a winner for the first time in six starts.
With the win, San Francisco pushed it's record to 66-50 and maintained it's one-game lead in the NL West. Down the coast, in a land where evil clearly isn't punished often enough, Los Angeles kept pace with an 8-4 win over Pittsburgh.
Johnny Cueto (13-3, 2.93) gets the call on Sunday as the G-Men look to take their second consecutive series. Cueto's fate has mirrored the team's with all of those wins coming before the Midsummer Classic. In five starts since he's gone 0-2 with an ERA over 5. Wade Miley (7-10, 4.98) takes his third crack at his first Orioles win.
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