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Bumgarner, Giants blank Cubs

Sep 1, 2011 - 3:39 AM San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Madison Bumgarner tied a career high in strikeouts over eight scoreless innings as San Francisco avoided a sweep by handing the Chicago Cubs a 4-0 defeat in the finale of a three-game set.

Bumgarner (9-12) fanned 11 -- matching the mark he set on June 26 against Cleveland -- scattering a pair of hits and as many walks en route to his third win in four decisions.

Jeff Keppinger had three hits, including a homer, and drove in two for the Giants, who snapped a three-game slide.

"Well, we're not as good as when I first got here. We were three games back and now were behind further and it's not a good feeling," Keppinger admitted. "This is as close as I've ever been so it's not over by any means. We have a lot of games left and things can change."

Pablo Sandoval added a solo shot and Chris Stewart posted two hits and knocked in a run for the victors, who welcome NL West-leading Arizona for a three-game series beginning Friday.

Rodrigo Lopez (4-6) dropped his third straight start after allowing nine hits and four runs over 5 1/3 frames for the Cubs, who continued their late-season skid by losing for the eighth time in 11 tries.

Keppinger notched the first run of the game with a leadoff homer in the fourth, then Sandoval followed with a blast to right-center which landed beyond the seats for a 2-0 game.

In the fifth, Marlon Byrd led off with a single, then attempted to steal with one out. Bumgarner fanned Darwin Barney swinging and the throw from Stewart eluded Keppinger and bounced into center. Home plate umpire Doug Eddings ruled intentional interference on Barney for leaning into Stewart's path, making it an inning-ending double play.

San Fran upped its lead to 3-0 in the home fifth on a Keppinger RBI hit, but couldn't push across more with the bases loaded.

Stewart doubled in Mike Fontenot with one down in the sixth for a four-run margin, and Bumgarner retired six of the final seven batters he faced to end his performance.

Sergio Romo turned aside Chicago in order in the ninth.

"They're a good club and today we ran into a good arm," Barney said of Bumgarner. "Though we tip our hats to them, fortunately we won two out of three and took the series."

Game Notes

Prior to the game, the Giants announced several surprise roster moves, most notably designating infielder Miguel Tejada and outfielder Aaron Rowand for assignment...In addition, the club activated outfielder Pat Burrell off the disabled list and purchased the contract of infielder Brett Pill from Triple-A Fresno...Sandoval's homer was the 58th "splash hit" in the history of At&T Park, opened in 2000...Despite the loss, the Cubs clinched their first winning August (16-13) since going 20-8 in 2008.