Madison Bumgarner on Sunday received potentially his last standing ovation as a member of the San Francisco Giants.
Bumgarner is in the final season of his contract and will be a free agent this offseason. He was originally schedule to start Sunday but he and manager Bruce Bochy decided to scrap that in favor of a different plan. We learned later what that plan was — Bochy decided to have Bumgarner pinch hit in the fifth for Brandon Crawford so he could face longtime nemesis Clayton Kershaw.
Bumgarner tipped his helmet after getting the standing ovation.
Madison Bumgarner just came in to pinch hit against Clayton Kershaw in what might be his final appearance in a #SFGiants uniform.
He took a moment to address the crowd and received a huge standing ovation. pic.twitter.com/ufWGTrro8O
— KNBR (@KNBR) September 29, 2019
Bumgarner lined out in the at-bat.
Kershaw understood the magnitude of the moment and tipped his cap to Bochy for the move:
Bumgarner. Kershaw.
A decade of battles. Nothing but respect. pic.twitter.com/SjwLjukfey
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) September 29, 2019
Bochy is retiring and Bumgarner may be moving on, which ends a great period of rivalry. Not only were Bumgarner and Kershaw star pitchers for their respective teams this decade and competitors in the NL West, but the two also hit against each other. Bumgarner has faced Kershaw more than any other pitcher in his career (24 times) and has clubbed two home runs off him.
