The Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitching staff has been on a roll as of late, and that continued on Sunday afternoon in a 1-0 shut out of the San Francisco Giants to complete a series victory at Oracle Park.
Walker Buehler got the start on the mound and turned in one of his best outings of the season, blanking the Giants over seven innings. He allowed just five hits while striking out nine and only walking one.
Buehler largely avoided trouble and when he did face a jam, benefitted from Justin Turner making a tremendous pick at third base to throw home and prevent the tying run from scoring.
Buehler got off to a slow start to the season after missing most of Spring Training due to an arm issue. He has now given up three earned runs or fewer in nine of his last 10 starts to lower his season ERA to 3.35 to go along with a 0.98 WHIP, 78 strikeouts and 13 walks in 75.1 innings.
The Dodgers offense stayed quiet for most of the game against Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, but one swing was enough to get the job done considering how well Buehler and the bullpen threw the ball.
That big swing came off the bat of Max Muncy in the top of the first inning. He hit a no-doubt shot into McCovey Cove off Bumgarner for his 13th home run this season.
After getting a hold of the ball, Muncy did what he usually does and dropped his bat and began walking to first base while admiring the majestic home run he just hit.
Bumgarner took exception with Muncy and shouted some words to him, which Muncy later confirmed that he was essentially telling him to put his head down and run. Bumgarner and Muncy got into a shouting match as the latter ran around the bases.
This isn’t the first issue that Bumgarner has had with the Dodgers and likely won’t be the last. But it was the Dodgers who got the last laugh during the weekend, coming away with the series win and handing Bumgarner a loss in his home stadium.
