Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner works against a San Diego Padres hitter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, July 24, 2020 in San Diego. (AP Photo / Gregory Bull)
A double homing in the sixth inning by Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer ruined what was a dazzling debut for new Arizona Diamondbacks ace Madison Bumgarner in a 7-2 loss Friday by the night in San Diego.
Bumgarner, who the D-backs signed on a five-year, $ 85 million contract in the offseason, ended the night giving up three runs on four hits and three walks, while striking out four in 5.2 innings of work.
He was sailing before the sixth inning, keeping the Padres scoreless and only allowing three hits and one walk.
“I felt he was right in that pitch range where we were still comfortable, he said he felt good,” D-back manager Torey Lovullo said in a Zoom call with the media after the game. “He is our man … the way I see him is that he is a man that I will trust and that I will trust in that situation.”
Bumgarner left the ballgame after Hosmer doubled 3-0.
Before Hosmer’s double, Bumgarner’s score on Friday was on par with his days wearing the Giants’ uniform, the team he had spent his entire career with.
However, his speed was not.
The 30-year-old left-hander threw 100 pitches and missed 90 MPH, according to MLB.com’s Gameday, floating in the high 80s.
Bumgarner averaged 91.7 MPH with his fastball last season, according to Fan Graphs.
While his fastball didn’t have as much speed as last year on Friday against the Padres, the speed of his other pitches remained largely unchanged.
Friday was the second consecutive opening day, Bumgarner faced the Padres, giving up two runs in seven innings and striking out nine last season.
Similarly, the left-hander didn’t get much help from his offense, as he took the loss in that game.
Kole Calhoun scored the first run for Arizona in the 2020 season with a home run to right field in the seventh inning and Christian Walker added an RBI single in the ninth inning.
The D-backs will look to bounce back against the Padres on Saturday at 6:10 pm Listen to all the live action on 98.7 FM Arizona Sports Station.
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