If the San Francisco Giants were contemplating trading any of their promising young pitching for offense, Madison Bumgarner gave them a reason to think twice. In a statement game on Tuesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, a team which routinely seems to be linked to the Giants in terms of trade compatibility, the 20-year old sensation had a proverbial coming out party throwing eight scoreless frames of three hit ball en route to earning the first major league victory of his career.
Bumgarner struck out five and more impressively held the Brewers 2, 3, and 4 hitters of Corey Hart (20-game hit streak), Prince Fielder, and Ryan Braun, hitless. As if to punctuate the performance and show the Giants front office just how valuable he is, Bumgarner even displayed his prowess with the bat and produced what no Brewer could against him, an RBI single.
Although it appeared at first that he would return to the hill for the ninth to complete the game and possibly record his first shutout, Bumgarner (115 pitches, 73 strikes) was relieved by Denny Bautista who subsequently walked two batters on eight pitches and was responsible for the lone Brewers run. Sergio Romo closed out the Giants 6-1 victory.
In only his third start of the season and the fourth of his career, Bumgarner performed more like a seasoned vet than a starry-eyed newbie. Battery-mate and fellow top-prospect Buster Posey who has caught all of his games this year, said of Bumgarner, “He threw the ball in and out really well, had the cutter working, was able to throw the change-up for a strike when he needed it, and then later in the game started dropping curveballs in. He did a great job.”
On the season, Bumgarner owns a 1-2 record with a 2.86 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He has 15 strikeouts to five walks in 22 innings pitched and is holding opponents to a .210 BAA.
