It started out as a laugher and was exactly what 43,742 Dodger fans had come to see – Giants notorious bad boy Madison Bumgarner having his lunch handed to him by a relentless Dodgers offense in what was probably the last time they will face him in a Giants uniform and quite possibly ever; at least in regular season play.

But what began as a comfortable 9-4 Dodgers lead heading into the top of the ninth inning, ended up being a nail-biting 9-8 squeaker, with the game-tying run left on second base and the go-ahead run on first.

First the good news.

The Dodgers absolutely lit Bumgarner up, rocking him for six runs on 10 hits (including two home runs), one walk and only three strikeouts. In fact, during a five-run fourth inning, the Dodgers sent 10 men to the plate, which sent the 29-year-old left-hander to the showers down 5-0 … and it was beautiful.

During that exciting fourth inning, Dodgers left fielder Kyle Garlick and catcher Austin Barnes homered, shortstop Chris Taylor doubled, and center fielder Kiké Hernandez, third baseman Justin Turner, first baseman David Freese and right fielder Alex Verdugo all singled off of MadBum.

Dodgers left-hander Julio Urias kept the Giants off the board in his masterful three innings of work, allowing only one hit (a single) while walking none and striking out five of the 10 batters he faced.

Urias was replaced by right-hander JT Chargois, who had been called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City earlier in the day. After pitching a scoreless 1-2-3 fourth inning, the Sulphur, LA native allowed the Giants first run on a one-out single by Giants center fielder Kevin Pillar, followed by a double off the bat of shortstop Brandon Crawford.

And then the wheels started coming off the bus for the Dodgers.

After pitching a scoreless sixth inning, an extremely costly throwing error by Taylor in the top of the seventh put Dodgers right-hander Ross Stripling against the ropes. What should have been a 1-2-3 seventh inning turned into a three run inning – all unearned – for the 29-year-old Bluebell, PA native. But even then, the Dodgers still had a 9-4 lead after their half of the seventh.

And now the bad news.

Hoping to give his All-Star closer the night off, Dodgers manager was forced to bring in right-hander Kenley Jansen after fellow right-hander Josh Sborz, who had also been called up from OKC earlier in the day and was making his MLB debut, allowed three runs on two hits to make it a 9-7 ballgame and a save situation for Jansen. But right from the start, it was obvious that Jansen was off when he gave up a single to Giants rookie right fielder Mike Yastrzemski, walked pinch-hitter Stephen Vogt, and gave up consecutive singles to second baseman Joe Panik and left fielder Tyler Austin to make it a one-run game.

Fortunately for the Dodgers, an extremely close play on a brilliant scoop and throw by replacement first baseman Cody Bellinger (who had been promised the night off) on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Austin prevented further damage. Bellinger crashed home as soon as Tyler squared, scooped up the ball directly in front of home plate (and Barnes), and fired a bullet to Turner to force Vogt out at third base for the first out of the inning.

Understandably, soon-to-be retired (and soon-to-be Hall of Fame) manager Bruce Bochy challenged the play at third which, by all appearances, showed that Vogt had beaten Belly’s throw. However, and as is often the case on plays like this, there was ‘inconclusive evidence’ (as they say) to overturn the out call by third base umpire Carlos Torres.

Jansen then got Giants catcher Buster Posey and first baseman Brandon Belt to fly out to center and right respectively to end the threat and the game by a narrow score of 9-8. Although ugly, Jansen picked up his 22nd save of the season, with the win being credited to Chargois.

“He just didn’t seem sharp,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Jansen after the game.

Fortunately, neither did MadBum.

Play Ball!

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