After losing consecutive one-run games to the Chicago Cubs, the San Francisco Giants eked out one of their own on Saturday afternoon, besting the National League leaders 3-2 in the third game of a four game series at Wrigley Field.
Madison Bumgarner (14-8 2.51 ERA) won the battle over fellow Cy Young hopeful Jake Arrieta, striking out 10 while allowing two earned runs in six innings. Arrieta (16-6 2.84 ERA) fanned seven of his own while also allowing two runs through six frames. It was the fifth time this season Bumgarner has notched double-digit strikeouts.
A Chicago miscue helped the Giants open scoring in the top of the first inning, when Angel Pagan scored from third following a throwing error to first base by Cubs third baseman Tommy La Stella. San Francisco doubled their lead in the fourth on a Eduardo Nunez RBI single.
A bit of stellar base running put Chicago on the board in the bottom of the fifth, after Nunez failed to barehand a slow rolling infield hit by Arrieta. Chicago’s Javier Baez rounded third base following the misplay, and slid headfirst into home just before Brandon Crawford’s throw reached the plate.
Arrieta gave the insurance run right back to San Francisco in the sixth, when Crawford scored from third base on his wild pitch. The run was set up by consecutive steals of second and third base by Crawford.
A sacrifice fly by Baez in the bottom of the sixth inning would again close the gap but prove to be the game’s final run.
The Giants bullpen pitched three scoreless innings following Bumgarner’s exit in the sixth.
Johnny Cueto (14-5 2.98 ERA) will take the hill for San Francisco in the series finale on Sunday, facing Chicago’s John Lackey (9-7 3.41 ERA) as the Giants shoot for a 2-2 series split. First pitch is scheduled for 11:20 AM PT.