Mercury News
Madison Bumgarner's teammates and coaches have rallied around him all week, saying his nightmarish last start would be just a bump in the road.
They were right.
Bumgarner was brilliant in the Giants' 3-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday night at AT&T Park, striking out a career-high 11 and giving up one run in seven innings.
The gem came five days after Bumgarner allowed eight earned runs and nine hits in just one-third of an inning in a loss to Minnesota.
"I knew this kid would bounce back," manager Bruce Bochy said. "There was no doubt in my mind."
The same feeling permeated the Giants' clubhouse, even as Bumgarner dealt with some self-doubt in the aftermath of one of the worst starts in big league history.
"I'm not going to say there wasn't any doubt -- there was a little," Bumgarner said. "It's tough to forget about a start like that. "... I was ready to get back out there."
If Bumgarner felt any doubt during a nationally televised appearance, he didn't show it. He threw 78 of his 112 pitches for strikes and struck out five of the last six hitters he faced.
"We didn't expect anything less," catcher Chris Stewart said. "That was a fluke last time. He came in today ready to dominate, and he did."
Indians manager Manny Acta said: "We were flat-out overmatched at the plate."
Bumgarner (4-9) has overmatched plenty of opponents in his young career but rarely ends up in the win column, often for reasons out of his control. Entering Sunday night, the left-hander had received two or fewer runs of support in 15 straight home starts.
But the Giants equaled that mark in the second inning on Stewart's two-out double to right. Cody Ross and Bill Hall hustled home, giving Stewart his first major league RBIs since May 8, 2007.
"That's the type of hit we've been missing," Bochy said. "He got us going there."
Stewart was a spark plug throughout the three-game sweep of the Indians, helping the Giants' vaunted starting staff hold Cleveland to just four runs. On Sunday, he again showed off his strong arm when he threw Grady Sizemore out at third in the second inning.
Since being promoted after Buster Posey's season-ending injury, Stewart has thrown out seven of 11 attempted base stealers. He also is quickly developing a rapport with the staff; Jeremy Affeldt shook Stewart off just once in two innings of relief, and Bumgarner praised Stewart's work behind the plate.
"He was really good back there," Bumgarner said. "He studies, and he works hard. He's always on his game."
Bumgarner was on his game throughout, giving up just six hits and walking one. He got a rare third run of support when Aubrey Huff hit an RBI single in the third inning.
Whether it's a fluke or just the result of the club's recent struggles at the plate, the three runs of support were tied for the most that Bumgarner has received in a home start since being called up to the majors.
With Brian Wilson unavailable after pitching four straight games, Affeldt was the one who made sure Bumgarner's efforts didn't go to waste. He struck out five in two hitless innings, picking up his second save and stretching the Giants' winning streak to five games.
The streak follows a five-game losing streak, and gives the Giants a 1 1/2-game lead over Arizona in the National League West.
"We pitched well, and we had timely hitting this whole homestand," Stewart said. "We had really big wins, and hopefully we can keep it up."
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