Madison Bumgarner gives the @SFGiants the lead!https://t.co/E8JdoW0m3f pic.twitter.com/ahDB2cXx3h
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 20, 2017
SAN FRANCISCO–The San Francisco Giants’ offense was in a rut in the early innings on Sunday afternoon.
In three consecutive frames, the Giants put runners on base, only to hit into inning-ending double plays that squandered pivotal scoring opportunities.
The good news for manager Bruce Bochy? He not only had Madison Bumgarner on the mound, he had Bumgarner in the ninth slot in his lineup as well.
The Giants’ ace has become well known for his potent bat, and in the bottom of the fifth inning on Sunday, Bumgarner delivered a go-ahead single to give the Giants the lead.
After a Ryder Jones double gave San Francisco a runner in scoring position, Bumgarner stepped to the plate and lined a single off of Phillies’ righty Ben Lively into left field for a base hit. The exit velocity of Bumgarner’s single officially registered at 109.7 miles per hour, and was the 14th hardest hit ball by a Giants’ player this season.
Bumgarner’s single plated Jones to give San Francisco a 2-1 lead, and the Giants are now in the driver’s seat heading into the late innings.