Posey’s single beats L.A.
S.F. takes series as Bumgarner’s outing evokes memories of competitive rivalry
Before the fractured hand and the motorbike accident, before free agency became a deep freeze, Madison Bumgarner seemed to be on his way to riches beyond his wildest imagination. Negotiations would have started at $200 million.
That version of Bumgarner found his way back to the mound at Oracle Park on Wednesday night in a game against the Dodgers, a thriller that was decided after he and manager Bruce Bochy retired to the clubhouse.
The Giants won it in their first walk-off of the season, 2-1, on Buster Posey’s two-out single in the ninth off Pedro Baez. The win gave the Giants the series.
“We always play those guys tough, but that was a big win for us,” Bumgarner said.
Steven Duggar started the winning rally against Julio Urias with his third single, a one-out hopper up the middle. Gerardo Parra, a late entry for defense, then slapped a single through the left side.
After Brandon Belt struck out for the third time, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts turned to Baez, a right-hander who fell behind 3-1 before Posey ripped
the winning hit to left.
Duggar slid and scored the winner ahead of a strong throw home from Chris Taylor.
“We’re lucky we had speed on the bases,” Bochy said.
Bochy earned his second ejection in his farewell season in the seventh inning. Homeplate umpire Tim Timmons tossed Bochy after a strike on a low 1-0 pitch to Posey.
Bumgarner held the Dodgers to a run in six innings that scored on a great hustle play from his career tormenter, Kiké Hernandez, who scored from second base on a well-struck infield hit by Cody Bellinger.
The Big Fella allowed four hits and struck out eight, generating 18 swings and misses for the first time since Sept. 19, 2016, also against the Dodgers.
He came after them, throwing his four-seamer at 92 mph and hitting 93 in a fourth-inning strikeout of Corey Seager.
Bumgarner was not the pitcher who allowed five runs in half of his first six starts this year, but he also did not win because he gave up a sixthinning run to match the one the Giants had scored in the first inning against Hyun-Jin Ryu.
Reyes Moronta struck out three in a row after the Dodgers placed their first two hitters aboard in the seventh on a Brandon Crawford error and Alex Verdugo single. Tony Watson’s 1-2-3 eighth included a strikeout of Bellinger on a fierce 3-2 cut.
Will Smith escaped a ninthinning jam and got the win.
Bumgarner held the Dodgers scoreless on two hits through five innings before Hernandez drilled a leadoff double off the wall in the sixth. Hernandez boosted his career average against Bumgarner to .511 (23for-45).
Hernandez was still on second base with two outs and took off on a 1-2 pitch to Bellinger, who shot the ball down the right-field line. Hernandez ran on the pitch and kept going as Belt made a diving stop.
Bumgarner was late running toward first base and was well behind the bag when Belt flipped him the ball. Bumgarner turned, and with a look of resignation, knew he had no chance to nail Hernandez at the plate, tying the game 1-1.
The Giants got a first-inning run for the second time this season in a rally keyed by Tyler Austin’s first extra-base hit with the Giants, a double off the wall in center after Duggar’s leadoff single.
The rally still had to be considered disappointing in the home dugout. The Giants had second and third with nobody out and scored only when Belt hit a sacrifice fly deep into Triples Alley.
Posey could not penetrate a drawn-in infield to get Austin home from third with one out, and Evan Longoria stranded the runner with a flyball.