Giants great Juan Marichal admires 'master' Bumgarner
San Francisco Giants pitching great Juan Marichal left AT&T Park on Sunday in awe of Madison Bumgarner.
The Hall of Fame pitcher, who won 238 games in 14 seasons with the Giants in the 1960s and early '70s, was in attendance at Sunday's game against the Washington Nationals, and witnessed another dominant performance from Bumgarner.
Going the distance, the 26-year-old lefty only gave up three hits while striking out 14 batters, notching his first complete-game shutout of the season.
"Oh, the command and the control," Marichal said when asked what most impressed him about Bumgarner. "Yes. I think when you have that command most of the time, you are going to pitch a good game. Control means so much to this game, and to know the weaknesses of the hitter. You need to do that. Throw the ball where those guys aren't going to hit it too hard.
"He can do that. He's a master. He's so calm. Nothing seems to get him out of control. It was an era of pitching when I played. You don't see too many today like Madison."
Bumgarner didn't just dominate on the hill on Sunday, though. He also went 2 for 3 at the plate with a double and a home run, becoming the first pitcher to strike out 10 or more batters and hit a home run in a shutout since none other than Marichal did it in 1963.
Marichal had to be reminded that he faced the Mets and not the Dodgers that game, but he said he remembered the game.
"I know I was happy," Marichal said. "I remember that game. I didn't hit a cheap one. I hit it way up there past the 430 sign."
(h/t San Jose Mercury News)
