AT&T PARK — What a week it’s been for the Giants.
First, they get no-hit on Tuesday by Homer Bailey. Then, they endure a walkoff loss in 11 innings Wednesday. A rainout on the Fourth of July was followed by a pummeling from the Dodgers and former teammate Juan Uribe.
And the icing on the cake? Batting out of order in the first inning of Saturday’s late-afternoon contest.
Despite the latest faux pas, the Giants won, ending a four-game skid.
Madison Bumgarner, selected to his first All-Star Game, flirted with a perfect game for 4-2/3 innings and finished with seven innings pitched, scattering three hits and two runs with nine strikeouts. Sergio Romo with his 20th save as the Giants beat the Dodgers 4-2.
Bumgarner says the win is more important than his All-Star selection:
Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner
Video: CSN Bay Area
“The win for sure. It’s a huge honor to get the All-Star Game too but we really needed a win today and were fortunate enough today to hold them to them to two runs. We scored four and came out on top and we needed it pretty badly.”
The Giants wasted a leadoff double by Gregor Blanco in the first inning. With one out, Buster Posey doubled to right scoring Blanco. But wait a minute, the lineup listed on the scoreboard was incorrect as Dodgers manager Don Mattingly alerted the umpiring crew that Posey batted out of order.
The correct lineup had Pablo Sandoval batting third and Posey in the cleanup spot. So Sandoval was called out and Posey batted again only this time he flied out to right squandering the would be 1-0 lead.
After the win, manager Bruce Bochy could joke about what might have been a disastrous mistake:
“Those two (Posey and Sandoval) we had just flipped them back. And we got a new electronic deal in the clubhouse it’s our second day there and somehow it got printed in there the opposite … Once he got the hit I realized we just hit out of order and was hoping they didn’t notice it but they picked it up.”
The Giants got another opportunity, and made the most of it when they scored three runs in the second inning. Brandon Belt was hit by a pitch before Andres Torres’ infield single put runners at first and second.
Brandon Crawford reached on a throwing error to load the bases, then Bumgarner drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring the first run. Gregor Blanco’s infield single to second made it a two-run cushion, then Marco Scutaro’s sac-fly gave the Giants a 3-0 lead.
In the fourth, Andres Torres reached second on a two-base fielding error by shortstop Hanley Ramirez. Torres advanced to third and came home on Bumgarner’s sac-fly.
Bumgarner had set down the first 14 batters faced when he allowed a bloop single to left by Andre Ethier. Then, catcher Tim Federowicz homered to left, and just like that the Dodgers only trailed by two runs.
Bumgarner retired the next five batters faced until he gave up a one-out triple to Ramirez who extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Bumgarner then induced Uribe to ground to third, where Pablo Sandoval gunned out Ramirez at home plate.
Sandy Rosario and Javier Lopez pitched the eighth before Sergio Romo served up a perfect ninth inning to notch his 20th save.
Dodgers rookie Yasiel Puig has terrorized opposing pitchers, but he finally showed the baseball world he is human after all. Puig had his first career four-strikeout game to end his nine-game hitting streak.
Joining Bumgarner in the Midsummer Classic are Posey and second baseman Marco Scutaro, who at 37 years old is an All-Star for the first time in his career.
Scutaro came up through the Mets organization a decade ago and said he is grateful for the opportunity:
Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro
Video: CSN Bay Area
“It’s very exciting and I’m looking to live the experience and I’ve never been to one of these games so I’m very happy. I’m looking to have fun and enjoy the moment.”
The site of this year’s All-Star Game is Citi Field, home of the Mets.
The Giants held a moment of silence for the victims of the Asiana Airlines crash at San Francisco International Airport. … San Francisco is 2-for-20 with runners in scoring position the past two games. … Four of the last six Giants wins have come in Bumgarner’s starts. … Ricky Nolasco, rumored to be acquired by the Giants a few weeks ago to bolster the rotation was picked up by the Dodgers in exchange for three minor leaguers going to the Miami Marlins. … Ramirez extended his hitting streak to a career-high 17 games.
Last modified July 7, 2013 1:31 pm
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