(SportsNetwork.com) – The San Francisco Giants play all 23 of their games in
April against teams from the National League West. That’s music to the ears
Madison Bumgarner, who will be on the hill Saturday when the Giants continue a
four-game series with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Bumgarner owns a 33-19 record with a 2.94 ERA against NL West clubs and
improved upon that number on Opening Day with a win over the Arizona
Diamondbacks. Last year’s World Series MVP held the D-backs to a run and six
hits over seven innings.
“I don’t know what else we can say about him,” San Francisco manager Bruce
Bochy said. “This guy’s special; first start goes out there and throws a
terrific game.”
Bumgarner is 6-4 lifetime versus the Padres with a 3.48 ERA in 18 games (17
starts).
San Diego, meanwhile, will hand the ball to righty James Shields, who did not
get a decision in his Padres’ debut on Monday. Shields surrendered two runs
and six hits in six innings in his team’s 6-3 Opening Day loss. He also struck
out eight without walking a batter.
“We’re not going to put too much emphasis on this one,” Shields said. “I think
that we’ve got a really good team. I’m excited. This is one of the better
teams I’ve ever been a part of.”
For the second straight night, the Padres and Giants played another 1-0
contest, only this time San Diego came away victorious on Wil Myers’ game-
winning double in the eighth inning.
San Francisco outlasted its NL West rival by the same score in the opener of
this set on Thursday, and its pitching staff was riding a 22-inning scoreless
streak before San Diego finally broke through in the eighth.
Clint Barmes worked a pinch-hit walk against Jeremy Affeldt (0-1) with one
away, then lumbered home as Myers’ drive to deep right caromed off the wall. A
good throw home would have nabbed Barmes at the plate, but the relay went up
the third-base line and skipped past Hector Sanchez.
“As soon as I hit it and I was running to first base I was screaming at him,
‘Run,'” Myers said of Barmes.
Joaquin Benoit (2-0) pitched a perfect eighth to earn the win, while Craig
Kimbrel worked around a one-out single to earn his first save in a Padres
uniform.
Brandon Morrow had a terrific Padres debut but wound up with a no-decision. He
struck out seven and scattered four hits and three walks over seven frames.
Tim Lincecum matched Morrow’s stat line almost identically save for two fewer
strikeouts.
“I don’t think I leaned on any pitch more than the other. I was just going
with whatever Sanchy put down for the most part,” Lincecum said.
San Diego was 10-9 against the Giants last season.
