By DANIEL DULLUM

Sports Radio Service

Sunday, July 19, 2015

PHOENIX, Arizona – By his own admission, San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner wasn’t at his sharpest Sunday, but what he had was good enough to help the Giants edge Arizona 2-1 and complete a three-game weekend sweep of the Diamondbacks.

“After throwing 20 pitches every inning, it makes it tough to go any longer,” Bumgarner said. “I wanted to stay in longer, but you have to realize it’s a 2-1 ballgame and I didn’t have great stuff today. The guys in the bullpen were more than capable of coming in and shutting the door, which they did. It worked out great for us.”

It was the first sweep by the Giants over Arizona since April 29-May 1, 2013, and the win extended San Francisco’s winning streak to six. Justin Maxwell’s solo home run in the second inning and a run-scoring double by Hunter Pence accounted for the Giants’ offense, while Bumgarner and the bullpen did the rest.

“Both teams hit some balls to the walls, but (Bumgarner) kept the ball in the park and battled out there with a gutty effort,” Bochy said. “I think it’s fair to say Bum didn’t have his best stuff, he wasn’t real sharp, and he was off a little bit with his command, but he’s a tough competitor and found a way to get through it.”

In his first start since the All-Star Game, Bumgarner (10-5) threw 93 pitches in five innings, giving up one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Though five innings is generally a short outing for Bumgarner, Bochy had no intention of pushing his ace into the sixth inning.

“We pushed him far enough. That’s a lot of work in five innings,” Giants Bochy said. “The pitch count got up, and he did his job. I have to do what’s right for Bum or any other starter.”

Thanks to another strong bullpen effort, San Francisco (49-43) was able to make the two runs generated in the second and third innings stand up. In the second, Maxwell hit his seventh home run of the season, a line shot to the opposite field that cleared the right field fence out of the reach of Arizona’s Yasmany Tomãs.

“Justin has a great calmness about him and through tough times, you don’t see any change with him,” Bochy said. “He keeps the same attitude and doesn’t get on that roller coaster ride that some players do.”

Arizona (42-48) tied the game at 1-1 with the help of a replay reversal. Wellington Castillo walked, followed by back-to-back singles by Tomãs and Aaron Hill to load the bases with nobody out. After Chris Owings flied out to shallow left, Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin hit into what was originally called a double play, but Manager Chip Hale requested a replay review.

After a 1 minute, seven second review, the original call was reversed, Castillo scored from third, and Corbin was credited with a fielder’s choice and an RBI.

The Giants took the lead for good in the top of third when Joe Panik walked, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Pence’s double down the left-field line.

As they’ve done all weekend, the Giants bullpen came up big in the last four innings. George Kontos, Javier Lopez, Hunter Strickland and closer Santiago Casilla held the Diamondbacks scoreless on five hits.

In the D-Backs eighth, A.J. Pollock and Castillo hit back-to-back singles with two outs, but Strickland retired Tomãs on a fly to right, ending the threat. Casilla faced four batters in the ninth, gave up a one-out single to Owings, but retired pinch-hitter David Perlta and Nick Ahmed on infield groundouts to earn his 24th save in 27 opportunities.

“That’s asking a lot, the way our bullpen came in and closed the door for four innings,” Bumgarner said. “They’ve been great.”

“What a great job they do,” Bochy said. “Kontos saved us with two big innings and he’s done a terrific job all year. And I know I’ve got some guys on fumes. That was Strickland’s third game in three days. The bullpen saved us.

“In this park, you get a win, you take it.”

It was a tough loss for Corbin (1-2), making his third start after coming back from Tommy John surgery. Corbin gave up both Giants runs on four hits while striking out five and issuing one walk after facing 21 hitters in five innings,

Goldschmidt – 4-for-11 since the All-Star break – Pollock and Hill each collected three hits as Arizona outhit the Giants 9-5.

“There’s no one way to pitch to Goldschmidt. You make a mistake and he’ll usually hit it,” Bumgarner said. “I can’t speak for everyone, but I went with the approach that you throw good pitches until you get to two strikes, then throw one down the middle! That didn’t work!”

The Giants’ next order of business before facing the Padres in San Diego is what to do with its roster. Jeremy Affeldt and Tim Hudson are due to come off the disabled list, and Hudson is the probable starter in Monday’s series opener at Petco Park.

“We’ll talk to Jeremy tomorrow and if he’s not ready to pitch, he might need another day,” Bochy said. “We won’t make any announcements until we get to San Diego. We have an idea of what we’ll do, and it won’t be easy. We knew it was going to get crowded, but these moves have to be made.”

The sweep came after San Francisco secured its 10th straight series win in the Valley of the Sun. Stats LLC reports the last time the Giants won 10-plus consecutive road series against an opponent in their park was when the New York Giants won 13 straight series against the Boston Beaneaters/Doves (Braves) at South End Grounds III and Rocky Point Park from 1903 to 1907.

GIANT JOTTINGS: Giants LHP Jeremy Affeldt made his second rehab start at Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, throwing two scoreless innings in relief against Tacoma. Affeldt, who is out with left shoulder strain, struck out one and walked one. … Sunday’s announced attendance was 27,173. Total attendance for the three-game series in the Valley was 91,704. … Through Sunday, the Giants have the most wins of any opponent at Chase Field with 89. The Los Angeles Dodgers are next with 81. … San Francisco’s road trip continues Monday with a three-game series in San Diego. The Giants’ probable are Tim Hudson (Monday), Chris Heston (Tuesday) and Matt Cain (Wednesday), while facing the Padres’ Ian Kennedy, Odrismer Despaigne and James Shields. All are righthanders.