LOS ANGELES – It was small consolation when Madison Bumgarner picked up a personal milestone Tuesday night. He became the fifth Giants pitcher all-time to record 200 strikeouts for the third consecutive season. The other four are in the Hall of Fame (Juan Marichal, Christy Mathewson, Amos Rusie) or is a beloved franchise icon (Tim Lincecum).
Bumgarner had much higher ambitions. He wanted to wrest back a division that the Giants had strong-armed at the All-Star break.
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He was not sharp and could not complete the task. The Los Angeles Dodgers scored five runs in five innings against him, and the Giants bullpen was a spurting artery in a 9-5 loss at Dodger Stadium.