Bumgarner continues career-long mastery of Cubs
Madison Bumgarner must get a big smile on his face when he sees it's time to face the Chicago Cubs. The poor North Siders just don't know what to do when they see him.
The San Francisco Giants ace continued his longtime mastery of the Cubs in his team's 1-0 victory, shutting out baseball's best team for 7 2/3 innings while driving in his team's only run of the game.
Bumgarner's posted staggering career numbers against the Cubs that are made all the more incredible when taking baseball's unbalanced schedule into account. Thanks to intra-divisional play being emphasized, the 26-year-old has only faced the Cubs 11 times, yet still boasts better numbers against the team than any other non-NL West opponent.
MADISON BUMGARNER VS. CUBS - CAREER
| IP | W-L | ERA | K | BB | WHIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73.0 | 7-2 | 2.22 | 86 | 18 | 1.055 |
Cubs manager Joe Maddon has probably seen enough of the Giants ace for one season, but still had to compliment Bumgarner for what was a gutsy performance.
"He should have a course on competing ... at some local (junior college)," Maddon told reporters.
When he wasn't mowing down the Cubs on the mound, Bumgarner was making the visitors pay at the plate. Last year's Silver Slugger winner at pitcher raked his first double of 2016 to drive in the winning run off an otherwise-solid Kyle Hendricks.
The win opened San Francisco's lead in the NL West to four games over the Colorado Rockies.