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Bumgarner Struggles In 8th, Giants Lose To Brewers

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS / AP) -- Another terrific pitching effort wasted, another missed opportunity and another loss. The defending World Series champions are looking at a grim situation.

Madison Bumgarner took a shutout into the eighth and then could not get an out. The Milwaukee Brewers rallied to score four times in the inning en route to a 6-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday night.

"For whatever reason, we don't look like the same team we were last year," Bumgarner said. "There are things I could have done differently. There are things everyone could have done differently. It's been the same story all year."

Bumgarner (11-7) gave up four runs—three earned—and five hits in seven-plus innings. He walked three and struck out four. It's the first time in 10 starts that he allowed more than three runs while pitching at least seven innings.

Buster Posey gave the Giants a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the seventh with a sacrifice fly. Khris Davis made a diving catch on the ball, saving at least one run and preventing further damage.

"That's a game changer," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "To get this kind of pitching and not get some wins, shame on us. We are playing like where we are at right now."

The Giants are hitting .174 (8 for 46) with runners in scoring position over their past six games. San Francisco leadoff hitters are batting .081 (6 for 74) since the All-Star break and are hitless in their last 22 plate appearances. The Giants have gone 11 home games without hitting a home run.

"We have most of the same guys out there," Bumgarner said. "It's just not going our way."

Brewers starter Marco Estrada was activated from the disabled list before the game to make the start in place of left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, who is still bothered by a sore elbow. Estrada had only a pair of rehab starts and his pitch count was limited. He retired his last 14 batters and 15 of 16 overall.

Only Brandon Crawford, who singled in the first, reach base safely against him.

The game was scoreless into the bottom of the seventh. Crawford walked and Brandon Belt singled to open the inning. After a passed ball, Posey hit his sacrifice fly.

The first four Brewers reached base against Bumgarner in eighth. They all scored.

Davis singled and Yuniesky Betancourt doubled to start the rally. Jeff Bianchi beat out an infield single to drive in one run and another came home when Bumgarner threw wildly past third on a bunt.

Santiago Casilla took over on the mound and got one out before Norichika Aoki's sharp single up the middle scored two.

"It's all about getting an out," Bochy said. "We couldn't do it in the eighth and it came back to haunt us. Our execution killed us. An infield hit that really hurt and not getting an out on the bunt."

Barry Zito, now in the bullpen, gave up two runs in the ninth.

The Giants were 35-31 and 1 ½ games out of first place on June 14. They have gone 15-32 since and dropped into last place, 13 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

NOTES: Giants OF Jeff Francoeur started in center field for the third time in his career. He made 176 starts there in the minors. ... Giants OF Gregor Blanco, .087 (4 for 46) since the All-Star break, will be given a day or two to clear his mind. "This will give him a chance to catch his breath," Bochy said. ... OF Hunter Pence hit in the leadoff spot for the first time since 2008. ... The Brewers are 5-1 against the Giants this season and have outscored them 32-19.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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