San Francisco Giants’ Madison Bumgarner throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks defeated the Giants 2-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

By DANIEL DULLUM
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, August 26, 2017

PHOENIX, Ariz. – It happens so often over the course of a baseball season – Madison Bumgarner pitching well enough to win on Saturday at Chase Field with nothing to show for it.

The San Francisco lefthander scattered five hits over seven innings, struck out seven and his only walk was intentional. But two of those hits were solo home runs by A.J. Pollock and J.D. Martinez, providing Arizona with enough offense to earn a 2-1 win over Bumgarner the visiting Giants.

It was the third win in a row for the Diamondbacks (72-58), who continue to lead the National League Wild Card race by 1 ½ games over Colorado and 5 ½ over Milwaukee.

It was Bumgarner’s ninth start since returning to the Giants from a three-month stint on the disabled list (left shoulder sprain). Bumgarner (3-6) threw 109 pitches before giving way to Hunter Strickland in the eighth.

“(Bumgarner) looked fine; looked like he’s back to normal,” Giants Manager Bruce Bochy said. “Throwing 109 pitches isn’t that uncommon. He felt fine. He could have gone back out there.

“Two solo home runs given up in this ballpark, that’s a great job. These days, you don’t give up as many hits, but you’re giving up more home runs. That’s how the game is today.”

Early on, it was looking like Diamondbacks starter Taijuan Walker (7-7), looking for his first win since June 21, would be the night’s hero. Walker retired the first 11 batters he faced until Giants leftfielder Jarrett Parker broke up Walker’s no-hit bid with two out in the fourth, driving a towering home run to center, tying the game at 1-1.

“Jarrett squared one up and that was it,” Bochy said. “(Walker) was good. He has great stuff, throws around 95, has good movement.

“We had our chances, but didn’t take advantage of them today.”

It was the long ball that got the job done offensively for Arizona. A.J. Pollock’s seventh home run of the season put the Diamondbacks up 1-0 with two out in the bottom of the first inning.

After Parker’s solo blast, Arizona regained the in the bottom of the fourth on J.D. Martinez’s home run off Bumgarner that landed in the seats just left of the 413-foot marker. It was the 11th home run for Martinez as a Diamondback, and his 27th of the season.

“The 3-2 pitch to Martinez, was spotted more toward the middle. I thought I would beat him, and I didn’t,” Bumgarner said. “Pollock has gotten real good at hitting high fastballs in the last year or two, because he’s hit two of them off me this year in almost the same spot.”

The Giants (52-79) threatened in the fifth when Brandon Crawford led off with a single and advanced to third on Joe Panik’s single. But Walker struck out Ryder Jones and Bumgarner to end the rally.

“I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate, seeing the ball good,” Bumgarner said. “I felt good going up there today and that just didn’t work out. That’s the way it is sometimes and I was glad to stay in the game.”

Bumgarner added that, at the same time, he has no interest in seeing electronic umpires working the plate.

“I’ve said this many times before, I’m not advocating for the stupid electronic strike zone,” he said. “I don’t even like replay. I wish we’d go back to playing baseball the way it’s supposed to be played. That’s just my opinion; everybody has one.”

“Bum is pretty good with a bat so I let him hit there in that situation,” Bochy said. “That was a tough pitch he was called out on. I got word the pitch was off the plate. He’s a pretty good hitter, he shortens up with two strikes. He saw it good, the call went their way, and that’s a tough break.”

Relievers Andrew Chafin, David Hernandez and Fernando Rodney blanked the Giants over the final 2 2/3 innings. Rodney struck out Crawford and Pablo Sandoval to close out save No. 32.

The two teams complete their weekend series Sunday, with righthander Chris Stratton (2-2, 3.98) pitching for San Francisco, while the D-Backs counter with lefthander Patrick Corbin (11-11, 4.09).

GIANTS JOTTINGS: Arizona SS Ketel Marte left the game in the sixth inning with left hamstring tightness. He’s day-to-day. … Attendance was 25,709 as fans sought to escape the 110-degree heat. It was 78 degrees inside with the roof closed.

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