SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner and Yasiel Puig share the same field Friday night for the first time since their bizarre altercation two weeks ago.
That incident likely had something to do with Bumgarner being pulled from the one run game earlier than expected, leading to another crushing Giants collapse in the ninth inning.
It wasn’t the first time the two have had a dispute, but Giants manager Bruce Bochy doesn’t expect a repeat tonight, in game one of a huge three game set against Los Angeles, with significant playoff implications.
“We’re playing the game to win, that’s all I’ll tell you,” Bochy told reporters in the dugout. “That’s where our focus is.”
“I don’t see something happening, to be honest, but you never know.”
Bochy also said he didn’t expect any pregame warnings from the umpires, but did acknowledge that there is no love lost between the two big personalities.
“It’s not the first time I’ve seen a couple guys who don’t see eye-to-eye,” he said.
– Just three days after being acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Braves, Gordon Beckham makes his first start tonight as a member of the San Francisco Giants.
Manager Bruce Bochy hinted at including Beckham in the lineup earlier in the week, preferring to roll with a righty heavy lineup against stellar Dodgers left-hander Rich Hill. Gorkys Hernandez is also getting the nod over Denard Span in center field, as is Kelby Tomlinson over Joe Panik at second base. With the similarly talented left-hander Clayton Kershaw going tomorrow, there is a good chance Beckham is in the lineup once again.
Beckham has seemed unfazed by the transition to a new clubhouse since arriving earlier in the week, his loose attitude on display as he cracked jokes with reporters shortly after arriving.
Some of that has to do with Beckham being no stranger to bouncing around the league, the Giants being his fourth team in seven years.
“He’s been around, he’s got the experience to adapt and get adjusted to a new club,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “This isn’t the first time he’s been traded. He’s looking forward to playing here and he knows some of the guys here, that’s probably made the transition a lot easier.”
How comfortable his transition onto the field remains to be seen. Gordon has been average against lefty’s this year, with a .705 OPS in 84 plate appearances. Gordon has only faced Hill twice, going 1-for-2 with a double.
– Eduarado Nunez remains questionable with a right hamstring strain he sustained on Sunday, with Bochy saying the All-Star third basemen could be available on Sunday at the earliest, but is not even a guarantee for a potential Wild Card game on Wednesday.
