Madison Bumgarner pinch-hits in Giants’ season finale against Clayton Kershaw
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SAN FRANCISCO — Madison Bumgarner was not going to pitch in Bruce Bochy’s final game.
But he wasn’t going to miss a chance to grab a bat and take a swing.
Bumgarner appeared as a pinch-hitter in the Giants’ last regular season game against Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who came out of the bullpen to face San Francisco in the bottom of the fifth inning on Sunday.
Bumgarner worked the count to 3-2 before fouling off a fastball from Kershaw and then lining out to third base.
A line out to third base. On to free agency. pic.twitter.com/eRf0IivG8g
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) September 29, 2019
Before the at-bat, Dodgers catcher Will Smith visited the mound and Bumgarner took in the loudest standing ovation of the day thus far from the fans at Oracle Park. The Giants veteran tipped his helmet to the crowd, acknowledging a fan base that has cheered him for all 10 seasons of his major league career.
Madison Bumgarner takes the field here, possibly for the last time. This was an awesome moment: pic.twitter.com/ntcmycLmwn
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) September 29, 2019
After the Giants announced Friday that Bumgarner would not start Bochy’s final game, the Giants considered various ways they could have their fans properly acknowledge a pitcher who said he is excited to enter free agency this offseason.
The team ultimately settled on giving Bumgarner a chance to hit against the Dodgers and he ended up facing Kershaw, a good friend of Bumgarner’s.
Kershaw brushed Bumgarner off the plate once during the at-bat, but gave the Giants pitcher a chance to do some damage by throwing seven consecutive fastballs.
If Bumgarner signs elsewhere this offseason, his line out to third base will be his last act in a Giants uniform barring a surprise return later in his career.
Real recognize real. #RespectTheRivalry pic.twitter.com/pIHilh5dnl
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) September 29, 2019