If San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner isn't the best pitcher in the game, he is certainly its most complete.
In seven innings pitched, MadBum fanned 11 batters and began the game by retiring the first 16 Arizona Diamondbacks hitters he faced.
But if that wasn't enough MadBum became the first pitcher in MLB history to hit two home runs on Opening Day. The second HR put the Giants back ahead 4-3 after Bumgarner had given up a game tying HR to AJ Pollock.
Unfortunately, there is the Giants' bullpen which has been an albatross around the team since the second half of last season. They blew leads in both the eighth and ninth innings. The ninth inning lead was blown by newly signed closer Mark Melancon. After retiring the first two hitters he faced, he gave up a double to Jeff Mathis, a game tying single to pinch hitter Daniel Descalso and a walk off single to Chris Owings to give the D'Backs a 6-5 victory.
MadBum will get his share of wins and will add to his home run total. However, I don't this will be the last time the Giants bullpen will blow a lead in the ninth inning. As great as he is, MadBum cannot do it all by himself.
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