SAN FRANCISCO -- They cheered him when his name was announced in the starting lineup and they gave him a standing ovation when he left the game.
In some ways, it was like old times at Oracle Park, except in between the beginning and the end this wasn't the Madison Bumgarner that Giants fans were used to seeing.
Bumgarner allowed six runs on eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in the D-backs' 6-1 loss to the Giants on Monday night.
It was the third time Bumgarner had pitched at Oracle Park as a member of the D-backs, including once during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season when there were no fans in the stands.
"I'm not going to lie to you and say that it's just any other game, any other stadium," Bumgarner said. "I want to especially pitch good here, so it's frustrating, it's embarrassing, would be how I would describe it."
The 33-year-old helped lead the Giants to three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014 during his 11 seasons in the Bay Area, achieving legendary status with his performance in the 2014 World Series.
Judging by the cheers, they certainly haven't forgotten and Bumgarner was appreciative.
"They are definitely some of the best and I know that and remember that," Bumgarner said.
When his outing was over, Bumgarner sat alone in the corner of the D-backs dugout trying to process what had transpired. Manager Torey Lovullo walked over and sat with him and talked for a bit.
"I like those moments with starting pitchers," Lovullo said. "I knew that he was down. I could tell when I took the ball from him that he was a little bit frustrated. I wanted to go down and tell him he threw the ball OK and check in on him. He was a little bit frustrated, obviously, but we’ll regroup and he’ll be out there in another four days and get after it."
It can be tricky with Bumgarner to know when to do something like that and when to give him space. Lovullo typically has a good knack for that, and he was spot on this time.
"I think everyone wants me to do good as bad as I want to do good, and it's been pretty frustrating at times for all of us," Bumgarner said. "He just kind of sat down. I appreciated that. Sometimes you got to have a feel on when it's good to do that and when it's not. And sometimes with me especially I get pretty worked up. That's no secret, but that was a time where I appreciated it."
After a tremendous start to the season, it's been a rougher slog for Bumgarner of late. Heading into Monday's start, he had a 6.62 ERA in his previous three games.
Bumgarner and pitching coach Brent Strom have worked on some adjustments and they will continue to do so after this one, but right now, Bumgarner is searching for answers.
For the first three innings, he held the Giants scoreless before things began to unravel for him.
"The first part was definitely pretty good," Bumgarner said. "And I don't think that anything changed other than the results. Like I was still pitching pretty similar all the way through. Just really good in the first half of it, and then equally as bad in the second half. One of the more frustrating outings I've had."