PHILADELPHIA — Will Smith jogged in from the bullpen late Tuesday night and had a long conversation with Buster Posey, possibly for the first time. His time on the mound didn’t last much longer.
Smith gave up a pair of one-out hits about four hours after joining his new team and both were cashed in on a single up the middle off Sergio Romo, who later allowed a three-run homer. The Giants gave up five runs in the eighth, falling to the Phillies 13-8 in their first game with a new look.
The trouble started not with a deadline addition, but with a franchise cornerstone. By just about any measure, Tuesday’s start was the worst of Madison Bumgarner’s season. He gave up a season-high 10 hits and eight runs — only four of which were earned — and never had a lengthy clean stretch. He was hit right away, when Aaron Altherr, the second batter of the game, smoked a cutter over the right field wall. Maikel Franco hit a three-run homer in the second, putting the Giants down 6-0.
They got a run back on Brandon Crawford’s solo shot in the fourth. The tying rally started an inning later with two outs. Three singles and a walk cut the deficit to three, and Brandon Belt made that up with one swing. His 12th homer of the year gave Bumgarner a fresh start, but he would give up two more runs, which were matched by Angel Pagan’s two-run shot.
Starting pitching report: Bumgarner was charged with eight runs for just the fourth time as a big leaguer. This was his first career eight-run, 10-hit appearance.
Bullpen report: Derek Law didn’t give up a run in July. He did not give up a run in his first appearance of August, either.
At the plate: The Giants hit three homers for just the second time in the last two months.
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In the field: Tip your hat to former Giants prospect Tommy Joseph, who had his catching career ruined by injuries but had a very nice night defensively at first base.
Attendance: The Phillies announced a crowd of 23,351 human beings, including a burly fan in the lower deck who was ejected by home plate umpire Bob Davidson in the sixth.
Up next: Johnny Cueto faces Aaron Nola. The last time they started against each other, people got hit and both benches got warned.
