Baseball-Bumgarner, Giants ease past Braves

Aug 5 (the Sports Xchange) - Madison Bumgarner came into
Wednesday's start against the Atlanta Braves with a 4.50 road
ERA, but pitching at Turner Field is like a home game for the
San Francisco Giants ace from North Carolina.
Bumgarner struck out nine in 7-1/3 dominant innings as the
Giants defeated the Braves 6-1.
"What a great job he did," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
"He had really good focus, and he helped save some guys in the
bullpen who needed the rest."
The left-hander is 4-1 in five starts at Atlanta, including
the clinching victory in the 2010 National League Division
Series.
"He's pitched well about everywhere. He's one of the best,"
Bochy said. "But I'm sure he's a little amped up here with his
relatives coming down from North Carolina."
Bumgarner (12-6), the 2014 World Series MVP, allowed one run
on seven hits and no walks, lowering his ERA to 3.28 in the
116-pitch outing.
He had gone 19-1/3 consecutive innings at Turner Field
without allowing an earned run until catcher Ryan Lavarnway
followed a single by second baseman Jace Peterson with a RBI
double in the seventh inning.
"I don't necessarily think having family here is the key to
how I pitch (in Atlanta), but there was quite a few people who
made the trip," said Bumgarner.
"There usually is, because it's not too far of a trip. But
for whatever reason, we've had a pretty good run of success
here."
Giants second baseman Kelby Tomlinson, making his first
major league start, drove in three runs with two singles while
catcher Buster Posey also had hits in his first three at-bats to
back Bumgarner.
The Giants (59-48) remained two games behind the first-place
Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.
Braves rookie right-hander Williams Perez (4-2) gave up 10
hits in six-plus innings and left the game after giving up a
two-run double to third baseman Matt Duffy.