Madison Bumgarner has been drawing the opposing team's ace all season. He did that again in this game, outpitched him, and lost another close game. Key Lines:
Madison Bumgarner- 8 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 9 K's. ERA= 3.09. Bumgarner has drawn Clayton Kershaw 3 times already this season. Last night he went up against Felix Hernandez and the matchup lived up to expectations. Bummy was so dominant through 4 innings the announcers and just about everybody else clearly started thinking perfect game as early as the second inning. His FB was sitting 94 and touching 95. He was elevating it and the Mariners were swinging through it. His slider was also sharp when he used it, which was not often. Then, strange things started to happen.
With 1 out in the 5'th Mark Trumbo hit a hard grounder right at Crawford that took a bad hop and hit Crawford in the chest. Knowing a perfecto was on the line, Crawford tried to make a heroic play(not that he wouldn't have tried to anyway, that's just Crawford). In the process, he threw the ball over Belt's head and Trumbo took 2'nd base. The Official Scorer ruled a basehit and a throwing error on Crawford. That was probably the right call, but everybody knew the situation and the torrent of questions that would follow if Bummy did not allow another baserunner.
The first clean hit came in the 6'th on a grounder through the hole by Zunino, the 9-hole hitter. Austin Jackson followed with a long fly to the gap in right-centerfield. He hit is a long way and it was in the gap, but it also was in the park and it stayed in the air a long time. Pagan had a bead on it and it was very catchable, but at the last second he pulled his glove back as he glanced at Vernon Maxwell closing from RF and the ball dropped for a triple. Even then, there was a play at the plate but Panik's relay through was slightly offline and Zunino barely avoided the tag to touch home plate with his hand. By the time Cano followed with a double down the RF line, you knew the game was probably over given the way Felix Hernandez was pitching.
Bumgarner then cruised through the 7'th and 8'th innings. The Giants made no run at Felix Hernandez and that was that. Another heartbreaking loss.
The Dodgers and Clayton Kershaw also lost, to the Texas Rangers, leaving the Giants 2.5 games behind the NL West leaders. The D'Backs topped the Angels 3-2 and are now just 4.5 games behind the division leaders. The Giants fell 2 games behind the Cubs in the race for the final Wild Card playoff spot.
Ryan Vogelsong tries to salvage a series split tonight facing rookie LHP Mike Montgomery who comes in sporting a sub-2 ERA.
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Dr. - Your wisdom please. I notice that several Giants pitchers start to run out of gas around the fifth inning. Particularly older guys like Hudson. Are you aware of any statistics on pitcher performance, say WHIP, by inning? With the upcoming glut of starters, I'm wondering if it would make sense to "split" a start. For example, both Hudson and Peavy prepare as starters for a particular start, one of them pitches from the beginning and after a few innings bring in the other one. It's like having a dedicated long reliever for a particular starter, who prepares as if it were his start on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteThe Rockies did this a few years back with fairly disasterous results.
DeleteMy proposal, which I've been floating for awhile, is to have the older pitchers skip starts here and there and have a 6'th starter to fill in when they do.
DeleteI was at the game with the kids, including the 8 year old birthday boy who was pulling for the Mariners. Oldest son and I rooted for the Gigantes. Daughter could probably care less...
ReplyDeleteOur Ace outpitched the King. Great pitching duel.I think BCraw should have been charged with 2 errors, but Zunino's hit was clearly earned.
Pagan should have caught the ball. For perhaps the first time Giants fans were drowned out by usually tepid Mariners fans (brought out by the ever - boisterous "King's Kourt"). That crowd noise on Jackson's triple may have contributed to the communication breakdown between Maxwell and Pagan.
McClendon brought in situational relievers to end the game.
It was cool to see two premiere aces (and potential HOFers) do battle. Hope the kids appreciated the opportunity to see the best duel.
Let's get em Vogie!
NWGiantsFan
DtF!!!
It seems to me the Giants fielders aren't real comfortable with Maxwell out there. I know Panik has had a few near misses. Maybe just not used to each other but there seems to be a communication issue there.
DeleteIt's funny that his last win was his worst game. And I don't mean 'funny humorous,' because the guy has given up just 3 ER in 16 innings over his last two starts and lost both games.
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I never judge a pitcher on his record.