Madison Bumgarner pitches 5-hitter, overpowers Astros as Giants win 3-1

SAN FRANCISCO - Madison Bumgarner pitched a five-hitter with 12 strikeouts, Brandon Belt broke up a pitcher’s duel with two solo homers, and the Giants beat the Houston Astros 3-1 on Tuesday night.

Belt’s homers, in the fourth and sixth innings, gave him 17 this season to match his career high in 2013.

It was Belt’s third career multihomer game and second this year for the defending champion Giants, who bounced back at home after being swept by the Cubs in four games over the weekend at Wrigley Field.

Bumgarner (13-6) outpitched fellow southpaw Scott Kazmir (6-7) in an anticipated interleague matchup of top lefties for the World Series MVP’s eighth career complete game and second this season. He didn’t walk a batter in the 105-pitch gem.

Kazmir, who had allowed only one earned run for a 0.44 ERA in three starts since joining his hometown Astros in a July 23 trade from Oakland, committed two throwing errors while losing his second consecutive start.

Bumgarner posted his 23rd career double-digit strikeout game and fourth this season. He surrendered a triple to Evan Gattis in the seventh on a ball center fielder Gregor Blanco had in his glove but dropped after crashing into the wall. Chris Carter drove home Gattis with a single two batters later to put the Astros on the board.

Bumgarner won for the fifth time in six starts. The seven consecutive strikeouts matched the San Francisco-era record by Jonathan Sanchez on Aug. 3, 2010, at Colorado, and Hall of Famer Juan Marichal on Sept. 6, 1964, at Philadelphia.

Kazmir lasted 52/3 innings, giving up two earned runs and seven hits, struck out three and walked two.

Giants left fielder Nori Aoki, who left Sunday’s game in Chicago after he was hit by a pitch in the third inning, was given one more day as a precaution. He’s expected to start this afternoon in the series finale against the Astros.

GIANTS INJURY REPORT

CF Angel Pagan went on the 15-day DL with patella tendinitis in his right knee.

RHP Tim Lincecum (bruised right forearm) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session he considered on par with a regular “in-between-start bullpen.” He remains optimistic he will pitch again this year.

RHP Tim Hudson threw a bullpen to test his strained throwing shoulder, and the Giants will discuss their next move with him as he was eligible to be activated Tuesday.

Backup C Andrew Susac was relegated to a DH role in his rehab assignment for Class-A San Jose following a root canal Monday.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Scott Feldman tries again for his first career victory versus the Giants after starting 0-4 in five appearances and three starts, including 0-3 at AT&T Park.

Giants: Rookie RHP Chris Heston, knocked out of his last two starts without reaching the fifth inning, looks for another fine start against the Astros after he tossed his first career complete game at Houston on May 12.