Bumgarner earns record-tying home win

August 31st, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO -- now owns a share of the title for winningest pitcher in Oracle Park history.

Bumgarner earned his 60th career home win after firing seven innings of one-run ball in the Giants’ 8-3 win over the Padres on Friday night, tying former teammate for the most wins by a pitcher at Oracle Park.

“That’s something you probably look back on once you’re done,” Bumgarner said.

The 30-year-old left-hander held the Padres to four hits while walking two and striking out nine, lowering his ERA to 2.81 ERA over his last 13 starts, 11 of which the Giants have won. Bumgarner leads National League pitchers with 176 2/3 innings this season, serving as the key anchor to a Giants rotation that has stumbled behind some of its younger starters this month.

“When he’s on the mound, we feel like we’re going to win every single game he’s out there,” said first baseman , who went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. “We need that. It’s nice to have that feeling as a ballclub.”

Belt gave Bumgarner an early lead with a two-run shot in the first inning, hammering an 0-1 fastball from Padres right-hander Dinelson Lamet over the right-field wall for his second home run in as many days. Belt now has 16 homers on the season, leaving him two shy of his career high with 28 games left to play.

“I definitely had chances before,” Belt said. “I think injuries kind of kept me from doing that. But you’re always looking to set career highs in any category. I think that’s no different, especially after the rough past couple of months. I’m feeling good now, and hopefully I can keep it going.”

extended the Giants’ lead to 3-0 with a solo shot to the opposite field in the fifth, continuing his remarkable rookie campaign with San Francisco. Since his debut on May 25, Yastrzemski’s 18 home runs rank third among Major League rookies, behind only the Mets’ Pete Alonso (25) and the Astros’ Yordan Alvarez (21).

“It’s a great story,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s really logged his time in the Minor Leagues. He finally got this opportunity, and he’s run with it.”

Bumgarner needed 23 pitches to strike out the side in the first inning, but he became more efficient as the night wore on. He blanked the Padres over the first three innings before surrendering a homer to Manny Machado that barely cleared the left-field fence in the fourth.

“This year has been kind of funny,” Bumgarner said. “Maybe not funny to pitchers, but funny for everybody else. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that one. Not here anyway. It was a good pitch.”

Bumgarner didn’t allow any additional damage over his 103-pitch outing and departed with a 3-1 lead. While he dominated on the mound, Bumgarner was unsatisfied with his performance at the plate, visibly showing his frustration after he struck out three times in three at-bats. He was rung up on a called third strike in the fourth, prompting him to fling his bat away in disgust.

“I was upset with myself for swinging through fastballs that I felt like I should hit,” Bumgarner said.

That unceasing competitiveness is one of the qualities Bochy appreciates most about his longtime ace.

“That’s who he is,” Bochy said. “He’s in every facet of the game. He’s never satisfied. He was frustrated with some at-bats, but that’s what makes him so good.”