Air Panda ✈️🐼
#OrangeFriday #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/jiC4zCkVSc
— SFGiants (@SFGiants) July 14, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO – In close games, like the one the San Francisco Giants had Friday night, defense can often be your best offense.
Madison Bumgarner, who had struck out five and allowed only one run, hit a spot of trouble when he gave up a single and then walked two players at the top of the seventh inning. With the bases loaded and no outs Giants’ skipper Bruce Bochy took Bumgarner out of the game and left Reyes Moronta to get the Giants out of trouble. The Giants lead 2-1 when Moronta came in.
Moronta alleviated some of the pressure in the next at-bat as he struck out Chad Pinder on a 2-2 count. As Johnathan Lucroy stepped up to the plate the Giants were in a position to get a much needed double-play. On a low slider Lucroy crushed a line drive down the third baseline. Pablo Sandoval fully extended to his right and made a catch that could only be made by someone who had logged so much time there.
However, the play wasn’t over as Stephen Piscotty now had to rush back to third base. As Sandoval returned to his feet it was apparent that Piscotty might beat him back to the bag. Both players dove for third and Piscotty nearly avoided the force out.
Moronta managed to get a ground out in the next at-bat to end the inning. Sandoval was greeted with a hug from Bumgarner upon returning to the dugout.
The only thing more rare than a #BusterHug is a #BumHug pic.twitter.com/vnKUnvuLoT
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) July 14, 2018
The Giants returned the favor a half-inning later as they loaded the bases with zero outs where Steven Duggar plated two runs on a double. The Giants eventually cleared the bases in a five run rally.
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