Madison Bumgarner Has Stare Down With With Umpire Joe West [VIDEO]
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Giants ace Madison Bumgarner pitched well against the Padres again. This time, he had nothing to show for it.
Despite seven solid innings of work from Bumgarner, the defending World Series champions lost 5-4 to San Diego and moved closer to elimination from the playoff race Thursday night.
Pinch-hitter Alexi Amarista's RBI single in the ninth was the difference.
"We lost a couple of tough ones here," Bumgarner said. "It's a crazy game that we play."
The defeat dropped the Giants eight games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers with 10 remaining. San Francisco trails the Chicago Cubs by 10 games in the chase for the second wild card.
Bumgarner did his part to help. He was charged with three runs, three hits and three walks while striking out nine.
"Bum did all he could to get the win. Left with a lead," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Bum did a perfect job. It's a shame we couldn't hold on and get him a win."
It was Bumgarner's second straight strong performance against the Padres. He was four outs shy of a perfect game in beating them 1-0 on Sept. 12.
The big lefty threw a season-high 120 pitches Thursday.
"The extra day (of rest) probably helped," he said. "I know when you get an extra day you have a longer leash."
Bumgarner needs two wins to reach 20 this season.
"Right now the only thing on my mind is the Dodgers on Tuesday night," he said. "We'll cross those bridges when we get there."
Derek Norris opened the ninth with a double off Mike Broadway (0-2), Norris' third extra-base hit of the game. Travis Jankowski ran for Norris and advanced to third on Melvin Upton Jr.'s sacrifice bunt.
Pinch-hitter Brett Wallace was intentionally walked before Amarista's hit to left-center.
"This goes to show you how hard it is to get a win. The last two games were similar — they came back late. Give them credit," Bochy said.
Craig Kimbrel (4-2) pitched the ninth to earn the victory.
Matt Kemp's one-out double off Giants reliever Sergio Romo tied the score at 4 in the eighth.
Matt Duffy had three hits for San Francisco.
Derek Norris' three-run homer in the second gave the Padres a 3-1 lead.
The Giants jumped to a 1-0 lead on Brandon Crawford's second-inning homer. It was his 20th of the season, one more than he had the last two years combined.
ALL-AROUND ROOKIE
Duffy became the third rookie in Giants history with at least 70 runs, 70 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
ZITO AND FRIENDS
Kevin Frandsen bought tickets to see Oakland's Barry Zito, his ex-Giants teammate, pitch on Saturday when the A's face the Giants. What Frandsen didn't expect was to be on the field. His contract was purchased from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday. "He texted me and said we may face each other," Frandsen said. "This is hilarious. At least I will have a better seat for what should be an insane O.Co Coliseum."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Padres: 3B Yangervis Solarte (right hamstring cramp) was a late scratch from the lineup. He flied out as a pinch hitter. ... RHP Bud Norris left the game with a right groin strain.
Giants: OF Hunter Pence (oblique) and 1B Brandon Belt (concussion) remain out, and Bochy said he doesn't expect either to play again this season.
OH, MY!
Padres broadcaster Dick Enberg met with the media after announcing his retirement following the 2016 season on Wednesday night. Enberg, the recipient of the Baseball Hall of Fame Frick Award this summer, is hoping his last season is special. "That's why we're baseball fans," he said. "We always think it's going to be next year."
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Mike Leake (10-9, 3.81 ERA) looks for his second win in six decisions with San Francisco as the Giants open a three-game series at Oakland. Leake lasted three innings in his last start, taking the loss after allowing three runs and eight hits.
Padres: RHP Casey Kelly (0-0, 4.50) makes his first start since 2012 as he rebounds from two Tommy John surgeries. A 2009 first-round draft pick by the Red Sox, Kelly worked two innings of relief on Sept. 19 at Colorado. He was charged with a run and five hits.
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