MESA, Ariz.–It was the moment Madison Bumgarner had been waiting for all spring.
In the top of the second inning of the Giants’ Tuesday evening matchup with the Cubs, Bumgarner finally took his first Cactus League at-bat.
It didn’t go as planned, but it looked much like the rest of the plate appearances the Giants strung together against Cubs’ starter Tyler Chatwood. Like six of the eight hitters who came before him, Bumgarner struck out.
There was one noticeable difference, though.
Chatwood broke off his first curveball against the feared Giants’ slugger…or pitcher.
“I actually saw the ball better than I expected to,” Bumgarner said.