Howdy,
Okay, Giants games weren’t supposed to go like that this year.
Not like last year. Not this year.
An atrocious, league-leading 30 blown saves. Just play better.
A dubious record, those 30 game-give-aways being the most ever for a playoff team (according to ESPN Senior Writer, David Schoenfield).
On the other hand, Madison Bumgarner was ridiculously good, like not-ever-before good — at least at the plate.
The Giants ace wasn’t only good as a hitter, though, he had a perfect game going through 5.1 innings as the Opening Day starting pitcher. No pitcher had ever pitched a perfect game on Opening Day, and, unfortunately, that remains the case, as Bumgarner then gave up three runs to allow the Arizona Diamondbacks to tie the game at three in the sixth.
What did MadBum do in the bottom of the 7th?
He blasted his second home run of the game to break the tie. Yep, first pitcher ever to hit two homers in an Opening Day game (per Elias Sports Bureau research, as seen in an ESPN recap by Mark Simon & Sarah Langs). (How soon will the Giants be playing in an American League ballpark so bashing MadBum can do some DH’ing?)
But the San Francisco Giants still didn’t win. What?
Two blown saves in the first game. What?
Not this year.
Next: Game 2 of 162.
Go, Giants!
—Billy
Reading. Writing. Living.
Word Count: 84,781 / On Pace: 92,400 / Year’s Goal: 200,000
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