Bumgarner Hits 2-Run Homer, Leads Giants Over Braves 6-0
ATLANTA (AP) - Madison Bumgarner won his sixth straight decision to match a career best and hit a two-run homer in a six-run fifth inning that led the Giants over the Atlanta Braves 6-0 Thursday.
Bumgarner (7-2) allowed four hits in 7 2/3 innings, struck out 11 and walked two, lowering his ERA to 1.91. The NL West-leading Giants have won 17 of their last 21 games and are unbeaten in Bumgarner's last eight starts.
Bumgarner hit his second homer this season and 13th of his career, a 411-foot drive into the left-field seats. He reached double digits in strikeouts for the 28th time during the regular season, including three this year.
Hunter Strickland and Chris Stratton followed with hitless relief.
Joe Panik and Buster Posey also hit two-run homers in the fifth inning off Aaron Blair (0-4). Bumgarner and Panik connected following walks and Posey after Matt Duffy was hit by a pitch.
Eight straight Giants reach in the fifth against Blair and Eric O'Flaherty. Blair allowed six runs, five hits and four walks in four-plus innings.
San Francisco outfielder Hunter Pence was placed on the 15-day disabled list before the game because of a right hamstring injury that could keep him out longer than two weeks. He missed six starts with another right hamstring injury before returning on Saturday. He then pulled up when running to first base in Wednesday night's game.
Pence's seven home runs are tied for the team lead. Giants outfielder Angel Pagan is on the disabled list with a left hamstring injury.
Atlanta's Chase d'Arnaud hit a one-out single in the first, and Freddie Freeman followed with a ground-rule double. Bumgarner struck out Jeff Francoeur and Adonis Garcia.
LONG CLIMB BACK TO MAJORS
Atlanta recalled infielder Brandon Snyder from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he struck out as a pinch hitter in the the seventh, his first big league appearance since 2013 with Boston. Snyder, who can play the corner outfield positions, has a .243 batting average in four seasons with Baltimore, Texas and the Red Sox.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Giants: Outfielder Mac Williamson was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Pence's roster spot.
Braves: Infielder Gordon Beckham was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left hamstring. Beckham, hitting .284, left Wednesday night's game after hitting into a double play in the sixth inning.
UP NEXT
Giants: RHP Johnny Cueto (8-1, 2.31), coming off a week in which he was 2-0 with a 0.60 ERA, is to start at St. Louis on Friday. He is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA in 20 starts against the Cardinals.
Braves: RHP Julio Teheran (1-5, 2.77) is slated to start Friday at the Los Angeles Dodgers. He is 0-4 with a 5.63 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.
