SAN FRANCISCO - Madison Bumgarner's last start was a weird one. He looked almost dazed after walking six and lasting just four innings against the A's.
Friday night was much closer to his usual form, as Bumgarner went eight innings, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on seven hits against the Brewers. He struck out five and walked just one this time around. Did Bumgarner go back and watch the previous outing to find out what went wrong?
"That's one of those that's so bad that you forget about it," he said, smiling.
This one was much better, but it wasn't enough. The lineup once again fell flat and the Giants lost 3-1.
Bumgarner was dominating until the sixth, when an infield single kicked off a long frame that got a run across for the Brewers. Another leadoff single led to a run in the seventh. In the eighth, Christian Yelich - who is having a hell of a series - doubled with one out and scored when Ryan Braun golfed a good 0-2 pitch into right-center.
Manager Bruce Bochy called it a good night for Bumgarner that came with "cheap runs." One of them stuck with the left-hander. Hernandez Perez stole third on Bumgarner with one out in the seventh and then scored on a grounder. Bumgarner appeared angry.
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"I was upset I gave him a chance to score that run," Bumgarner said. "He picked the right time to go and it worked out."
-- Bochy has finalized his plans to attend the Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Sunday. He will take a red-eye back to New York after Saturday night's game and then fly straight to San Diego to meet the Giants for Monday's game, missing just Sunday's series finale. Bochy's longtime closer, Trevor Hoffman, is getting inducted.
"It tells you how much this man means to me," he said of Hoffman.
-- Joe Panik went seven innings in his second rehab game for the Sacramento River Cats, picking up a hit and walk in four plate appearances. He is scheduled to play nine innings on Saturday before getting reevaluated.
-- Way further down in the minors, Joey Bart hit two more homers for Salem-Keizer. This year's No. 2 pick has nine homers in 18 games for the Volcanoes.
