Bumgarner Nearly Perfect As Giants Blank Padres 8-0
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Madison Bumgarner lost his bid for a perfect game on a base hit with two outs in the eighth inning, the only blemish for the San Francisco Giants ace Saturday night in an 8-0 victory over the San Diego Padres.
Bumgarner (18-7) retired his first 23 batters before pinch-hitter Melvin Upton Jr. sent a clean single up the middle. The big left-hander received a warm ovation from the disappointed crowd of 41,564 and then went right back to work.
He completed the one-hitter without permitting another runner and finished with nine strikeouts while matching his career high for wins set last year.
It was his fifth career shutout and second this season. Bumgarner has thrown four of his 10 major league complete games this year.
Marlon Byrd drove in three runs. Angel Pagan and Brandon Belt both homered to support Bumgarner, last year's NLCS and World Series MVP.
Against the Padres, he almost added a night of perfection to a resume that includes three championship rings.
Matt Kemp hit the ball hard twice for the Padres, and Pagan ran down a ball in right-center on a long fly by Justin Upton to open the fifth.
Upton also was denied a hit on a backhand stop and throw from the deep hole by shortstop Ehire Adrianza leading off the eighth.
Ian Kennedy (8-14) had a one-hitter going through 3 2-3 innings before walking Buster Posey and Belt, both of whom scored on Marlon Byrd's double. Kelby Tomlinson followed with a triple and Adrianza singled to make it 4-0.
It never got better for Kennedy, who gave up Pagan's fifth-inning homer, Alejandro De Aza's triple, Belt's RBI groundout and Byrd's RBI single before being replaced.
Kennedy allowed seven runs and seven hits over 4 2-3 innings. He entered 11-5 with a 2.41 ERA in 24 starts against the Giants.
Belt added his career-best 18th home run in the seventh. He scored three times.
Byrd went 3 for 3 with a walk and is hitting .583 (14 for 24) since ending a 1-for-17 streak.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: RHP Brandon Maurer will continue to receive treatment for right shoulder inflammation until he is completely pain-free before the team maps out a throwing program for him. He's in the discussion for a rotation spot next year.
Giants: All-Star SS Brandon Crawford (calf, side tightness) is closer to returning than 2B Joe Panik (back).
UP NEXT
Padres: RHP Colin Rea (2-2, 4.26 ERA) is coming off the best effort of his rookie season, holding the Rockies scoreless on two hits over seven innings in a no-decision. He'll be making his seventh career start and second on the road.
Giants: RHP Mike Leake (9-8, 3.70) makes his sixth start for the Giants, still looking for his first win with his new club. He's 0-3 with a 4.31 ERA for San Francisco. His last victory came on July 28, with the Reds.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.