Christopher Mezzavilla
SAN FRANCISCO — After nine weeks, the anticipation surrounding Madison Bumgarner’s 2018 MLB debut was palpable entering Tuesday night. Fans in AT&T Park rose to their feet to applaud the lefty ace as he sauntered toward the mound during the first inning.
The sight of a healthy Bumgarner was reaffirming, but a victory, which would have extended the Giants’ winning streak to six, would have fittingly capped his return. But it did not happen.
The Giants lost to the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks 3-2.
Bumgarner’s long-awaited return did not start the way neither he nor the Giants anticipated. He allowed four hits against Arizona’s first eight batters. The Diamondbacks scored two runs in the second inning to take the lead they ultimately would not surrender.
Bumgarner bounced back nicely, however, producing four consecutive scoreless innings before exiting the game prior to the seventh inning. He allowed eight hits and only struck out three, atypical of Bumgarner. But he escaped multiple jams to produce a solid outing. He threw 82 pitches, which aligned with Bruce Bochy’s pregame comment that the count would be capped at 90 pitches.
Offensively, the Giants did little to help their ace. They had the opportunities, despite compiling only five hits.
In both the fifth and seventh innings, the Giants had the bases loaded with two outs. Buster Posey flied out on a 2-0 count to end the seventh, and Pablo Sandoval grounded out in the eighth to squander another opportunity.
The Giants brought in closer Hunter Strickland, who is on his way to one of his best career seasons, in the ninth inning. He allowed a single, walked another batter, and gave up another single to allow Arizona’s third run of the night.
The Giants had one last chance after Alen Hanson doubled with one out in the ninth inning. After Gorkys Hernandez struck out, and Buster Posey singled to score Hanson and cut Arizona’s lead to 3-2. Andrew McCutchen, who hit two walk-offs during the season’s first homestand, hit a single to left field. That left Evan Longoria up with two runners on. He grounded out to the shortstop to end the game.
Tuesday’s loss dropped the Giants to fourth place in the National League West. They trail the first-place Diamondbacks by 2.5 games. The Giants will conclude their six-game home stand against the Diamondbacks Wednesday night before embarking on a 10-game road trip.