LOS ANGELES (AP) — Madison Bumgarner pitched eight superb innings and Brandon Crawford hit a two-run homer, leading the San Francisco Giants past the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-1 Friday night.
The Giants’ 12th victory in 15 games was overshadowed by the broken left thumb Brandon Belt sustained when he was hit by Paul Maholm’s first pitch of the second inning. The first baseman, who leads the club with nine homers, ran the bases until the inning was over but was replaced on defense by Joaquin Arias.
The Giants were leading 3-0 when Yasiel Puig homered to center with one out in the sixth, after taking a called third strike his previous time up and leaving Justin Turner stranded at third base. As soon as Puig made contact, he flipped the bat away, walked a few feet toward first base and began a slow trot around the bases.
Bumgarner walked toward the third base line and had a few choice words for Puig as he approached home plate. But the hostilities ended there with some quick action by plate umpire Will Little, who intercepted Bumgarner.
Hanley Ramirez was the next batter and took a 1-1 pitch for a strike that had manager Don Mattingly chirping from the dugout. Little ejected Mattingly, who came running out to argue.
Bumgarner (4-3) allowed a run and four hits with eight strikeouts en route to his second straight victory after three consecutive losses.