Offense bails out spotty Bumgarner

If Madison Bumgarner is traded he will not get to take catcher Buster Posey with him. The Big Fella will have to bond with a new batterymate and has to hope that it goes as smoothly as his time with Stephen Vogt. Manager Bruce Bochy, who used to ensure Posey would catch Bumgarner every time, had Vogt catch Bumgarner for a third straight game.

“This is definitely the fastest and easiest transition I’ve had with another catcher besides Buster,” Bumgarner said after his no-decision in the Giants’ 8-7 victory Saturday over the Brewers.

Vogt considers that the highest compliment and said he talked often with Posey, Bumgarner and the pitching coaches to discern what the left-hander likes to throw and when.

“The best thing I feel I’ve done as a catcher is my relationship with pitchers,” Vogt said. “I’m not the best defensive catcher. I’m not the best receiver, blocker, thrower. But I try to give every ounce I have every time I’m out there for the pitcher.”

Vogt caught last Sunday when Bumgarner held the Dodgers to Max Muncy’s “go get it out of the ocean” homer in seven innings. Saturday’s start was not nearly that good.

Bumgarner allowed five runs (three earned) over six innings and was beaten twice by Manny Piña, a .145-hitting catcher who batted eighth for the Brewers and hit a solo homer and RBI single off the left-field wall.

Bumgarner helped dig the Giants a 5-1 hole that counterpart Jimmy Nelson seemed more than capable of protecting until he walked Bumgarner, Joe Panik and Mike Yastrzemski on 13 pitches to start the fifth inning.

Adrian Houser relieved Nelson and walked Brandon Belt to force in a run. The Giants added two more on Pablo Sandoval’s infield out and Vogt’s sacrifice fly. The Giants tied the game 5-5 in the sixth on a Brandon Crawford double, Evan Longoria pinch single and Panik’s sacrifice fly.

Briefly: Bochy had planned to rest Will Smith, but the two agreed that Smith would pitch in a save situation and be off-limits Sunday. … Vogt added his voice to those who feel the bullpen mounds should be moved to right-center, where he hit his second triple. Safety aside, Vogt said, “If I hit a ball 421 feet I want it to be a homer.” … Bumgarner has two wins in his past nine starts, but the team is 6-3.

Jeff Chiu / Associated Press Madison Bumgarner (left) is congratulated by Stephen Vogt after scoring in the fifth inning.