Rockies find way to get to MadBum early

May 7th, 2016

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Rockies capitalized on the one shot Giants star left-handed pitcher Madison Bumgarner gave them by scoring four second-inning runs Friday night. All that they couldn't claim was what really mattered -- victory.
After the rally, which included three Rockies hits and a throwing error on Giants second baseman Joe Panik, Bumgarner didn't let a runner reach second base before he left after 7 1/3 innings of a 6-4 Giants victory.
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Bumgarner fanned a season-high 10 and turned into the same monster who has gobbled up so many opponents past, and Rockies starter Chad Bettis was hurt by two mistakes -- a curve that Brandon Crawford parked for a three-run homer in the bottom of the second and Matt Duffy's triple on a changeup during a two-run Giants fifth. But the Rockies gave themselves a shot.
"You're only going to get an opportunity or two against Bumgarner," Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. "You've got to maximize those opportunities. I thought we did."
The second was a burst of efficiency. The first four batters reached base. Nolan Arenado doubled, Mark Reynolds singled Arenado home, Ryan Raburn added an infield single and Gerardo Parra reached on a grounder that Panik fielded before throwing wildly to second to let Reynolds score.

Execution continued without hits. Dustin Garneau added a sacrifice fly and Bettis squeeze-bunted in another run, as Parra beat Giants first baseman Brandon Belt's flip to the plate.
"Any time you can get to Bumgarner like that, it doesn't come easy and doesn't happen a whole lot," Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu said.

Bumgarner hasn't thrown as hard as in past years, and the top-end velocity didn't return Friday. But in a clinic of a pitcher maximizing his available tools, Bumgarner located his fastball, used his cutter and threw in and out of the strike zone as he pleased.
After throwing 42 pitches in the first two innings, Bumgarner spread 66 until he left with one out and one on in the eighth. Reliever Cory Gearrin wiggled out of that situation.
"It seemed like if [Bumgarner] missed up, he missed way up," Raburn said. "But against me, he kept the ball down good. He doesn't throw as hard as he used to but he's still a good pitcher. He knows what he's doing."