Madison Bumgarner came within an out of his first major league shutout and earned his first victory of the season, and Freddy Sanchez drove in two runs to help lead the San Francisco Giants over the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 on Thursday night.
Bumgarner (1-6) allowed a run and six hits, including a first-pitch RBI double with two outs in the ninth by rookie Jerry Sands.
The 21-year-old left-hander struck out three and walked two in his ninth start of the season. Bumgarner has a 1.32 ERA over his last five outings.
The only other Giants starter to lose his first six decisions of a season since Terry Mullholland’s 0-6 start as a rookie in 1986 was Barry Zito, who began 2008 with an 0-8 record.
Tomorrow night’s Battle of the Bay with the Giants hosting the Oakland A’s airs on NBC Bay Area with coverage starting at 7 p.m.
