San Francisco

Long Ball Does in Bumgarner, Giants in Loss to Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — Madison Bumgarner was brilliant on opening day here at Chase Field. The Giants lost.

Bumgarner carried a heavy load again Saturday in the park where he hit two homers the last time he took the field. The Giants again lost.

The left-hander’s seven strong innings were not enough, as the Giants fell 2-1 to Taijuan Walker and the Diamondbacks. They have dropped the first two games of this road trip. Here are five things to know ...

— The Giants didn’t have a baserunner until there were two outs in the fourth. Technically, Jarrett Parker didn’t spend much time on the bases. Parker broke up the modest no-no/perfect game with an absolute blast to dead center that got 97 feet up in the air and traveled an estimated 441 feet. Aesthetically, it was one of the more impressive homers of the season for the Giants.

— With two on and two down in the seventh, Bruce Bochy let Bumgarner hit for himself against lefty Andrew Chafin. Bumgarner struck out looking on a pitch that was way outside.

— Bumgarner allowed just two runs, dropping his ERA a tick to 2.85. Both came on solo homers. He struck out seven and walked just one.

— David Hernandez, cut by the Giants back in March because Neil Ramirez looked better, pitched a clean eighth. He has a 2.62 ERA and 0.99 WHIP this season. Oops!

— It was 110 degrees outside at first pitch. The roof was closed, but still, feels like this is worth noting. People live here.

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