LOS ANGELES - Facing the National League's reigning Most Valuable Player and Cy Young Award winner helped San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner pitch his best game of the year Tuesday.
Bumgarner conceded just five hits in eight innings, and catcher Buster Posey drove in two runs to give the Giants a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers in front of 50,161 at Dodger Stadium.
"It's going to bring out the best in you, for sure. I mean, there's no way around that," Bumgarner said about facing left-hander Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers ace who last year became the second pitcher in NL history to win both awards.