Photo credit: @SFGiants
By Jeremy Kahn
SAN FRANCISCO — It was a pitchers’ duel between Chase Anderson and Madison Bumgarner in the second game of the four-game series between the San Francisco Giants and the Milwaukee Brewers.
Orlando Arcia broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the seventh inning, when he grounded out to Evan Longoria that enabled Hernan Perez to score from third base and the Brewers would go on to defeat the Giants 3-1 before a crowd of 40,414 at AT&T Park on Friday night.
Perez led off the inning with a walk-off of Madison Bumgarner, was then sacrificed to second by Manny Pina, then with Arcia at the plate, Perez stole third, and then scored on the Arcia groundball.
Since returning from the All-Star Break, the Giants have lost five of their first seven games, while the Brewers have won five out of their first eight games out of the gate after the All-Star Break.
With the loss, the Giants are under. 500 for the first time since June 22, when they lost to the San Diego Padres 6-2 and were 38-39.
This was the seventh loss in the last eight losses for the Giants, where they have been leading or tied at the end of the sixth inning or later.
“Gotta find a way to win a ballgame,” said manager Bruce Bochy. “Still believe we are going to get this thing going.”
Brandon Crawford got the Giants on the board in the bottom of the second inning, as he doubled off the right field wall to score Buster Posey, who doubled to lead off the inning against Anderson.
That would be the score all the way to the top of the sixth inning, when Bumgarner allowed an infield single to Keon Broxton, then Christian Yelich walked and then both advanced an additional 90 feet on a groundout by Jesus Aguilar. Broxton scored the tying run when Ryan Braun hit a ground ball to Alen Hanson at second base, Bumgarner was able to get out of the jam without any more damage, when he got Tyler Saladino to fly out to Gorkys Hernandez to end the inning.
The Brewers extended their lead up to 3-1 in the top of the eighth inning, as Yelich doubled with one out, then two batters, Ryan Braun drove in Yelich with a single.
“Just trying to keep runs off the board,” said Bumgarner.
Yelich extended his hitting streak up to 11 games, and now has a hit in 16 of his last 17 games.
Anderson ended up going six innings, allowing just one run, while scattering four hits, walking no one and striking out three.
Despite being on the losing end of things, Bumgarner pitched a great game, as he went eight innings, allowing three runs, allowing seven hits, while walking just one and striking out five.
“Felt good, command was good,” said Bumgarner.
Bumgarner saw his four-game winning streak against the Brewers come to an end, as he is now 7-3 all-time versus them.
Newly acquired Joakim Soria replaced Anderson in the bottom of the seventh inning, and the former Chicago White Sox reliever got Crawford to ground out to lead off the inning. However, Longoria walked with one out. Soria was then able to get Pablo Sandoval to ground into an inning-ending double play to end the mini threat.
Jeremy Jeffress struck out the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the eighth inning, but then Jeffress gave up back-to-back singles to Steven Duggar and Hanson, before walking Andrew McCutchen on four consecutive to load the bases for Posey. Jeffress was able to get out of the jam, as he got Posey to ground out Saladino at third base to end the inning.
NOTES: Prior to the game, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Brian Wilson will be inducted into the Giants’ Wall of Fame on 2nd St. The ceremonies will begin at 2:00 p.m. and conclude at approximately 2:45 p.m.
Joe Panik continues his rehab assignment with the Sacramento Rivercats, as he went 1-for-3 and played seven innings.
Mike Moustakas was acquired by the Brewers from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for outfield prospect Brett Phillips and reliever Jorge Perez.
The Royals were rained out against the New York Yankees on Friday night, and Moustakas should arrive prior to the start of the game.
UP NEXT: The Giants and Brewers will meet again for game three of the series Saturday night at 6:05 pm PDT.
Johnny Cueto looks to get the Giants back into the winning column on Saturday night, as he takes the mound against Jhoulys Chacin for the Brewers.
