SAN FRANCISCO — For just a moment, David Price paused when asked if he remembered facing Madison Bumgarner and the Giants two years ago. He collected his thoughts and spilled the memories, recalling where Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval splashed two-out singles en route to a four-run outburst with two outs in the first inning.
“You went pretty deep in that game, didn’t you?” a reporter asked.
“Eight and two-thirds,” Price responded with a smirk.
The 6-foot-5 lefty could’ve continued his impeccable account of that September 2014 game, but it wouldn’t have included anything about Bumgarner. The Giants ace was shielded from the lineup by a designated hitter, but that won’t be the case for Wednesday night’s matchup between the Giants (35-25) and Red Sox (34-24) at AT&T Park. Check below the story for tonight’s lineups and injury updates.
And with Bumgarner’s Home Run Derby status piquing the interest of baseball fans, Price had to answer how he would pitch the Giants left-hander. The No. 9 hitter that’s already burned aces Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw.
“Whenever I do throw interleague games in the National League,” Price said, “I don’t treat the pitcher any differently.
“I’m not sitting up there (thinking), ‘I’m just gonna throw you fastballs so hopefully you throw me fastballs.’ That’s not the case. I’m going to pitch him like I would pitch anybody else.”
Price has never allowed a hit to a pitcher, let alone a home run. He couldn’t recall facing a pitcher that had any home run to his record. That would’ve changed had the two dueled in that prior start, with Bumgarner having already hit two grand slams earlier in 2014.
Regardless, he’s collected two Silver Slugger awards since, and injects power into a lineup lacking Hunter Pence and Buster Posey.
“(Bumgarner’s home run totals are) not going to change the way I’m going to approach the game,” Price said, “or any type of situation I might run into.”
The former Cy Young Award winner has allowed a home run in each of his last four starts, but has still pitched better of late. He began May by allowing six runs in back-to-back starts, ballooning his ERA to 6.75 just seven starts into his $217 million contract.
Since then he’s allowed three runs or less in five starts, pitching into the seventh inning each time. But Price maintains he’s still not himself, unable to dominate this year like he has in seasons past.
Price said he’d like execute more of his pitches, putting guys away in 0-2 holes, something he wasn’t able to do last time he faced the Giants. This time he’ll have to do it against Bumgarner, too, pitching for the first time in San Francisco.
“Those games are always fun,” Price said of facing Bumgarner. “I definitely don’t put more significance on any other game, especially right now. He’s throwing the ball extremely well and I want to go out there and throw better.”
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Giants lineup and history against David Price
CF – Denard Span (1-for-8, BB, SO)
2B – Kelby Tomlinson (Never faced Price)
1B – Brandon Belt (Never faced Price)
3B – Matt Duffy (0-for-4, 2 SO)
SS – Brandon Crawford (1-for-3, RBI)
C – Trevor Brown (Never faced Price)
RF – Jarrett Parker (Never faced Price)
LF – Mac Williamson (Never faced Price)
LHP – Madison Bumgarner (Never faced Price)
Red Sox lineup against Madison Bumgarner
RF – Mookie Betts
2B – Dustin Pedroia
SS – Xander Bogaerts
1B – Hanley Ramirez
CF – Jackie Bradley Jr.
LF – Chris Young
3B – Josh Rutledge
C – Christian Vazquez
LHP – David Price (Just for fun: 2-for-39 lifetime hitter)
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Buster Posey is still out with an irritated nerve in his right thumb, but is available to pinch-hit. Sounds like Bruce Bochy would like to avoid that scenario, though.
As scheduled, Matt Cain pitched a few simulated innings this afternoon. He faced Conor Gillaspie and a spry Roberto Kelly, among the few hitters he threw to. Bochy maintained that he’d like Cain back in the rotation as soon as possible, likely indicating a Monday returned from the disabled list. Albert Suarez has faired well in place of Cain, throwing 6.1 solid innings against a lethal Red Sox lineup on Tuesday, but Bochy wants to strengthen his bullpen with Suarez back in it. He likened Suarez to Yusmeiro Petit, the Giants’ former long reliever who’s thrown well for the Nationals this year.
Angel Pagan continued base running activities as he inches closer to returning from a strained left hamstring. He’s making good progress, Bochy said, and is still in line for a rehab assignment as soon as Monday.
Sergio Romo threw from 90 feet today and could throw off a mound this weekend. He’s still out indefinitely.
Hunter Pence is going to have his hamstring surgery tomorrow in Texas.