Giants 3 Mets 1 | Final
Despite the fact that both pitchers play for lackluster teams, the prospect of a Madison Bumgarner-Jacob deGrom showdown provided fanbases for both teams the tantalizing prospect of two of the best pitchers in the game going head-to-head. It was a cruel trick of the schedule that wasted this matchup on a weekday afternoon getaway game, crueler still because neither pitcher disappointed: deGrom struck out 10, Bumgarner 8; Bumgarner walked no one in eight innings, allowing only one earned run, and while deGrom walked four, he also surrendered only one earned run in six.
Bumgarner (5-5 on the year) is now 7-0 against the Mets in his career, and holds a 0.59 ERA at Citi Field: a relentless campaign of terror that will make the less-than-Amazins happy to see the back of him. The Giants lefty added insult to injury by hitting an RBI single.
Is it possible to call any start for a pitcher with a Cy Young-worthy season, including a 1.71 ERA, yet a .500 record (he fell to 8-8 on the year), particularly frustrating? If so, this was one was; despite double-digit strikeouts, deGrom surrendered a run on a passed ball in the third, and appeared to escape the fourth inning with a one-run deficit intact striking out Nick Hundley looking before home plate umpire Tony Randazzo granted a walk to the Giants catcher. That set up Bumgarner for the RBI double, leaving deGrom to fume at the home plate umpire. Evan Longoria added to the Giants lead with a solo home run off Tyler Bashlor. Todd Frazier provided the Mets’ only offense, hitting a solo home run in the seventh inning. The home runs were the 14th of the season for each player.
New York will host the recently swamp-drained Washington Nationals at home Friday, and face another pitcher who loves mowing down Mets, Gio Gonzalez (7-10, 4.51), while the Mets will send out Jason Vargas (3-8, 7.67). First pitch is at 7:10 p.m.
Photo credit: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports
Pretty sure it was a double from bumgarner, not a single