OAKLAND – A’s public address announcer Dick Callahan announced the lineups, as he always does, and when he came to the Giants’ No.9 batter Thursday night, there was a lilt in his voice.
“Batting … and pitching, Madison Bumgarner.”
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Bumgarner in the All-Star home run derby would’ve been an entertaining scene. Bumgarner hitting in place of the designated hitter at the Coliseum – the first time in 40 years that a manager intentionally eschewed the DH – was not intended as a sideshow.
“This is not for fun,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.