ST. LOUIS -- Giants manager Bruce Bochy decided to go with the hot hand off the bench down one in the ninth inning against the Cardinals on Wednesday.
That meant pulling back rookie Ryan Lollis for Madison Bumgarner to face Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal with the bases empty and two out. Bumgarner, who singled in a pinch-hit appearance the previous night, took several mighty cuts, but struck out swinging and the Giants lost, 4-3.
"That's what you love about him, and two outs, nobody on, down a run in the ninth, that's what you're looking for is some good swings, and he certainly gave us that," Bochy said.