Chicago Cubs: Bumgarner silences bats, provides his own support in Giants 1-0 win

The Chicago Cubs had no answers for the Giants Madison Bumgarner as he stifled them through 7 2/3 innings while providing the only run of the night on an RBI double in the fifth.

After the Chicago Cubs lost what looked like a pitching matchup in their favor last night, the hope was they could turn the tables on the San Francisco Giants tonight. Kyle Hendricks and the bullpen held up their end, but Madison Bumgarner was simply too good as the Giants (27-19) took the series from the Cubs (29-13) with a 1-0 win.

Hendricks (2-4, 3.30) was able to keep Giants hitters off-balance but was unusually wild as he walked three batters in just 5 1/3 innings. It was a mistake pitch Bumgarner on a full-count that was his only blemish on the night. Bumgarner roped a letter-high pitch into left just out of reach of the Cubs’ left fielder Jorge Soler, scoring Gregor Blanco who was running on the pitch.

The Cubs had their best chance against Bumgarner (6-2, 2.17) in the first when they loaded the bases with two outs. But Addison Russell struck out—his first of four of the evening–and the Cubs failed to push a run across and wouldn’t get that good an opportunity again.

In the top of the 8th, pinch-hitter Javier Baez attempted to lay a bunt down to the first base side. Brandon Belt fielded the ball and attempted to tag Baez who avoided the tag and reached out to touch the base. But first base umpire Dana DeMuth ruled that Baez went out of the baseline. He was not, but the play isn’t reviewable and the out call stood. It’s hard to say if it would have made a difference in the outcome, but a leadoff man on could have changed the course of the inning

Next: Signing Nathan an early deadline move

.

The Cubs have now dropped seven of their last 11 games but still hold a six-game lead over the second place Pittsburgh Pirates. The Cubs will open a three-game series against the Cardinals in St. Louis starting tomorrow.