Giants win in the Mile-high City
DENVER – Even if some of his teammates confessed their doubts, Madison Bumgarner always expected to take the mound on Saturday at Coors Field.
The Giants’ front office spent part of the week fielding calls regarding Bumgarner’s availability ahead of Wednesday’s 1 p.m. trade deadline, but Bumgarner said he never seriously considered the idea of wearing a different uniform.
The Giants ace made his first post-trade deadline start Saturday against the Rockies, donning the same road grey uniform and black cap he’s grown accustomed to in a 10-year career. The No. 40 jersey remained the same, but Bumgarner didn’t quite look like himself in Denver.
Despite an uncharacteristically tough night for Bumgarner, the Giants earned a come-frombehind 6-5 win over the Rockies on the shoulders of the only member of the club who’s been around as long as their starter.
Buster Posey entered in the top of the eighth as a pinch-hitter and delivered a go-ahead two-run double on a 100.7-mile per hour fastball from Rockies flamethrower Carlos Estevez. After fouling off a two-strike slider, Posey shot Estevez’s heater into right center field to give the Giants their first runs since the first inning.
The clutch hit snapped Posey’s 0-for-11 streak as a pinch-hitter that dated back to June 28, 2018 when he singled in a 9-8 Giants loss at Coors Field. With the help of set-up man Tony Watson and closer Will Smith, the Giants captured a much-needed victory and improved to 56-55.
Despite losing a one-run affair in Friday’s series opener, the Giants have now won nine of their last 10 one-run games a are a major-league best 27-11 in games decided by one run.
Watson dealt with pressure at the beginning and end of the eighth inning, as he allowed a leadoff single before he started a 1-36 putout of Ian Desmond. After giving up a two-out triple to Garrett Hampson, Watson induced an inning-ending groundout from Tony Wolters to preserve the edge.