Bumgarner pitches five-hitter, overpowers Astros as Giants win Three

Kazmir, who has been better at home (4-2, 1.22 ERA) than on the road (2-4, 3.20), beat the Giants in their only meeting last year with seven scoreless innings. It was Bumgarner’s eighth career complete game, and for him pitching deep into starts – and not strikeouts – is the main goal. He followed up in the sixth with a opposite-field shot on a 2-2 offering, which tied his season career high at 17. He hadn’t pitched yet because of innings concerns.

The Giants, meanwhile, stranded baserunners in scoring position in the second and third innings before Belt’s leadoff blast in the fourth.

And that offense will look to remain active with the upcoming stretch, starting with getting Bumgarner some support against a very tough Scott Kazmir.

From a Dallas Keuchel-Sonny Gray match-up in the last series to a Scott Kazmir-Madison Bumgarner billing to begin a two-game series with the Giants on Tuesday, the Astros aren’t receiving the most favorable pairings to dig themselves out of this rut.

First, the pitcher took too much time after fielding a topper in front of the plate by left fielder Justin Maxwell and threw late to first base. “At no point did I realize he had any kind of streak”, Houston’s Hank Conger said. The first baseman is batting. The seven consecutive strikeouts matched the San Francisco-era report by Jonathan Sanchez on August Three, 2010, at Colorado, and Corridor of Famer Juan Marichal on September 6, 1964, at Philadelphia.

“I really think his at-bats this last two, three weeks, if not longer, have been better”, said Bochy.

The San Francisco Giants took advantage of their chances on Tuesday to get the win over the Astros. He’s 3-0 with a 1.29 ERA in three against the Astros in San Francisco but hasn’t faced them since 2012. Chris Carter drove house Gattis with a single two batters later to place the Astros on the board.

NOTES: Despite the loss, the Astros (10-3) retained baseball’s best record in interleague play. The Giants have a 10-5 record SU against the American League. RHP Tim Hudson threw a bullpen to test his strained throwing shoulder, and the Giants will discuss their next move with him as he was eligible to be activated Tuesday…. The Astros announced a minor league trade before the game.

Indians 5, Yankees 4, 16 inn.: Michael Brantley’s RBI single with one out in the 16th inning lifted Cleveland to a victory over skidding New York, which lost its fourth straight and had its lead in the AL East over Toronto trimmed to a half-game.