Madison Bumgarner Yields Five Runs in Return to Mound, A's Beat Giants

Madison Bumgarner gave up five runs in 2 2-3 innings after skipping a turn in the rotation, and Billy Butler's homer helped an Oakland Athletics split squad beat the San Francisco Giants 9-1 Saturday.

Bumgarner missed his last start to give a pull in his rib cage and some nerve problems in his left foot time to heal. He allowed seven hits and struck out four.

A's starter Felix Doubront gave up a run on five hits in four innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Doubront also bounced back from getting hit in his right leg by line drive off the bat of Trevor Brown in the second inning.

Jake Smolinski added two hits and drove in two runs and Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis also drove in runs for the A's. Hunter Pence drove in a run for the Giants.

STARTING TIME

Athletics: Doubront walked off his injury and stayed in the game.

"It hit the back of my knee, in the muscle I think. I didn't feel my leg, from the knee down so I stayed down, waiting for the pain," Doubront said. "It's sore but nothing changed. I mixed my pitches really well and everything was working."

Doubront is on the bubble between the fifth spot in the rotation or being a long man in the bullpen. He's fine either way.

"The first goal is to have a good spring and stay healthy," he said. "I'm going to be ready whatever the situation, starting or long relief. I want to guarantee that I will do a good job."

Giants: Bumgarner shook off the poor results and focused on feeling healthy.

"It felt even better than I expected," Bumgarner said. "That's the big plus for the day. It didn't hinder me at all. I was very close to feeling normal."

His delivery was off, though Bumgarner said it's easy to fix.

"It's not quite where I want it to be, but it's not too far off, either," he said. "I'm opening up too soon and that's a big part of timing and rhythm."

Bumgarner threw 60 pitches in the game and then went to the bullpen to throw a few more to simulate another inning. Since feeling something in his rib cage while taking batting practice, Bumgarner has not picked up a bat.

"If I don't get to hit until the regular season, that's fine," he said. "My main concern is on the mound."

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker (elbow) will undergo the fourth surgery on his right elbow April 1. He'll wait until after the procedure to ponder his future in baseball.

Giants: C Andrew Susac (tendinitis in right wrist) has not played since Monday. ... OF Gregor Blanco (back tightness) returned to the lineup.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Sean Manaea gets the start for Oakland on Sunday in Mesa against RHP Jacob Turner and the Chicago White Sox.

Giants: Play the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.