San Francisco Giants star Madison Bumgarner became the first Major League pitcher in history to pound out two homers on baseball’s opening day. The long shots didn’t help his team in the long run in its 6-5 loss Sunday to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“MadBum” slammed his first home run of the game in the fifth inning off Arizona starter Zack Greinke. The solo shot put the Giants in the lead, 2-0. It was also the hardest home run hit by a pitcher, according to Statcast, at a 112.5 mpg exit velocity, USA Today reported.
Bumgarner also boasts of the second- and third-hardest hit home runs by a pitcher since the technology was introduced in 2014.
Meanwhile, the Giants took a 3-0 lead by the top of the sixth and Bumgarner looked as if he was also headed for a perfect game, Fox Sports noted. The Diamondbacks, however, scored three runs to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.
Not to be outdone, Bumgarner smashed another homer in the seventh inning against pitcher Andrew Chafin. His home run streak had to end when he was taken off the mound as San Francisco led, 4-3, before ending up losing the game. Bumgarner also tallied seven strikeouts from the mound.
His rocketing shots out of the field briefly made Bumgarner the Major League home run leader since it was opening day. The pitcher has 16 career home runs to lead all active pitchers, hitting three last season and five in 2015.
Bumgarner also started off last season with a home run during the first week of play. That solo homer, off fellow Cy Young winner Clayton Kershaw, led the Giants to a 3-1 victory in extra innings against the Dodgers.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.