Opening Day starter Madison Bumgarner was totally clutch at South Caldwell High School

Video: Madison Bumgarner - San Francisco Giants

It wasn't the best stuff for the South Caldwell (Hudson, N.C.) alum, but Madison Bumgarner's 2016 season opener was a success.

Makes sense. It's an even year.

The San Francisco Giants ace gave up three runs early, then watched his teammates bomb four home runs in a 12-3 opening day win at Milwaukee.

Bumgarner had one of the greatest pitching performances in World Series history in 2014 — a 2-0 record and a save with a 0.43 ERA — leading the Giants to their third title in five years (the others were 2010 and 2012).

His high school coach Jeff Parham told MaxPreps then, "How much more proud of a kid can you get?" he asked rhetorically. "It was such a blessing to coach that young man for four years."

The 6-foot-5 lefthander, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Giants, led South Caldwell to 2006 and 2007 4A state championship title series, winning in 2007. Fittingly, Bumgarner ended his final prep game with a walk-off, two-run home run.

"I tell people all the time that Madison wants the ball — or the bat — in a big game situation," Parham said. "The bigger the stage the better. He never shied away from it. He loved it. He just wants to win. That's inside of him. That's just part of his DNA."