SAN FRANCISCO -- Before hitting the road to visit the White House and begin a highly anticipated National League Championship Series rematch with the Phillies, the Giants wanted to make sure they focused on taking care of the Brewers, another playoff contender.
Madison Bumgarner did most of the heavy lifting for San Francisco, throwing 7 2/3 innings and scoring a run in his second straight win at home as the Giants beat the Brewers, 2-1, and took the series victory in AT&T Park on Sunday. The lefty gave up a homer to Ryan Braun in the first but calmed down after that despite saying he didn't have his best fastball, striking out eight -- all swinging -- while scattering eight hits and allowing no walks.
"Today was kind of one of those days where I felt like I was having to fight myself," Bumgarner said. "I feel like I did a good job of overcoming that and just making pitches."
As usual, Bumgarner didn't receive much run support, scoring one of those two runs himself. But he made sure Brewers right-hander Yovani Gallardo, who entered the game with the second-most run support in the National League this season, had even less to work with.
"His maturity and poise on the mound is just unbelievable. You don't see that in a whole lot of veteran pitchers, much less in one that's 21 years old," left fielder Brandon Belt said. "It's really nice to see him keep his composure throughout the game no matter what happens."
Bumgarner only threw 93 pitches and likely could have made a run at the first complete game of his career. But manager Bruce Bochy opted to send in right-hander Sergio Romo to face Braun with two outs in the eighth, resulting in a groundout. Closer Brian Wilson sealed the deal with his second straight 1-2-3 inning, saving his 31st game of the season.
Bochy said he thought about leaving Bumgarner on the mound, but he thought the lefty had already done his job and didn't want to risk a late-game mistake against Braun. And it's not like Bochy is hurting for options in the bullpen, which has given up just one run since the All-Star break.
Bochy spoke highly of Bumgarner's ability to pound the strike zone the way he did Sunday and has done throughout his young career. Bumgarner has now gone 19 straight starts with two or fewer walks -- the longest such stretch for the Giants since Juan Marichal accomplished the feat in 21 consecutive starts between July 17, 1970, and April 20, 1971.
Bumgarner said he wasn't aware of the streak. To Bochy, though, it was representative of why Bumgarner has been so successful so early in his career.
"That's one reason why he's up here at a young age. He's obviously very talented, but he throws strikes," Bochy said. "He does a great job of pounding the strike zone with all his pitches. He's just gotten smarter as a pitcher."
Bumgarner even chipped in at the plate in the third inning, launching a double to deep center just over the outstretched glove of Brett Carroll. After Andres Torres flied out, Jeff Keppinger knocked a single to left field, and Bumgarner slid home -- with third-base coach Tim Flannery yelling in his ear the whole way down the third-base line -- to beat the throw and tie the game. The RBI single was Keppinger's first as a Giant.
"I thought he did a marvelous job today, especially at the plate," Wilson said of Bumgarner. "He basically won it himself. We just came in and helped preserve it."
"I think [Bumgarner] understands that it's a long game. He trusts his offense," Belt added. "Even though it's been sporadic for him the entire season, he still trusts us to get a couple runs across, and fortunately, we did."
The Giants took the lead in the fourth. Aubrey Huff hit a high popup toward Brewers third baseman Josh Wilson, who lost the ball in the sun as it landed a few feet away from him. Huff was thrown out at second on Nate Schierholtz's fielder's choice, but Schierholtz beat out the double-play attempt.
With Schierholtz running, Belt stroked a single to right field, putting runners on the corners. Mike Fontenot pushed the tiebreaking run across on a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
"Like their record shows," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said, "they get in tight ballgames, and they seem to come out ahead."
That run gave the Giants their 27th one-run victory of the season and their 21st series victory -- along with plenty of momentum heading into yet another big week.
"It's very important that we did win today's game," Wilson said. "We always say, 'Let's say you lose the first two games of the series, then the last game's the travel day. Well, you want to have a nice flight.'
"And today, we'll have a nice flight."
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