Max Muncy and Madison Bumgarner provided early fireworks during a sequence that led to the Los Angeles Dodgers edging the San Francisco Giants, 1-0, to win the three-game series at Oracle Park.
Bumgarner’s temper boiled over when he began arguing balls and strikes with home-plate umpire Will Little a mere four pitches into the game. Bumgarner’s anger then shifted to Muncy, who hit a 426-foot home run into McCovey Cove to give the Dodgers a 1-0 lead.
Muncy dropped his bat and took a quick second to admire his drive to right field, which prompted Bumgarner to yell in his direction and gesture for Muncy to begin running the bases. Little cut off Bumgarner as he stalked Muncy to prevent the matter from escalating further.
Muncy shouted back at Bumgarner as he got to first base and again as he crossed home. Nothing else came of the fiery moment, and Muncy finished 1-for-2 with a walk against Bumgarner. The southpaw allowed just the one run on four hits over seven innings.
Bumgarner’s effort was bested by Walker Buehler, who got through seven shutout innings. Buehler stranded a leadoff double in the first inning, then a base hit and walk in the second. He allowed a two-out single in the fourth inning but faced real trouble in the sixth.
Back-to-back singles by Mike Yastrzemski and Evan Longoria put runners at the corners with nobody out. Pablo Sandoval then hit a 99 mph one-hopper that was picked by Justin Turner, who then threw home to get the runner.
Buehler proceeded to retire the next two batters to preserve the Dodgers’ 1-0 lead. He followed a season-high 11 strikeouts by collecting nine against the Giants.
Buehler’s effort was backed by Pedro Baez working a scoreless eighth inning and Kenley Jansen following suit in the ninth. Baez stranded a two-out walk, while Jansen retired the side in order for his 19th save.
With the win the Dodgers avoided their first series loss since dropping two of three to the Giants at Oracle Park from April 29-May 1.
