San Diego @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 21, 2010 ) San Francisco 2, San Diego 5
First-place in the NL West is on the line as the San Diego Padres visit the San Francisco Giants to begin a three-game series on Tuesday night.
The Padres (19-12) have been leading the division ever since sweeping the Giants in Petco Park three weeks ago. San Francisco (18-12), however, is just a half-game back entering the opener.
San Diego could have had a 1 1/2-game lead entering the series but blew a late lead Sunday against the Houston Astros and lost in 11 innings. The Giants defeated the New York Mets on Sunday to complete a 4-2 road trip.
The Padres have been the surprise team of the National League over the first fifth of the season. Even with Sunday’s loss, San Diego has won 16 of its past 22 games.
Pitching has been the prime reason for the Padres’ fast start and the opener figures to be a pitcher’s duel with left-handers Wade LeBlanc of the Padres and Barry Zito of the Giants squaring off.
Zito (5-0) has re-emerged as a top-flight pitcher this season with a 1.49 ERA and by limiting opposing hitters to a .182 average. He has allowed two or fewer runs in five of his six starts.
Zito didn’t pick up his fifth victory last season until July 7 and was a major disappointment in his first three seasons with San Francisco.
The Padres have had good success against Zito, who is just 3-6 with a 4.17 career ERA against San Diego. He has lost his four decisions to San Diego.
LeBlanc has excelled since being recalled after Chris Young (shoulder) went on the disabled list. LeBlanc (2-0) has a 1.16 ERA, having given up just three runs in four starts.
This is his first start against the Giants this year but LeBlanc beat San Francisco twice in the final month of last season.
Meanwhile, San Diego’s top player is slumping entering the series. First baseman Adrian Gonzalez hasn’t homered since April 25 and has just five hits in his last 33 at-bats. He has just one RBI in that 10-game stretch.
Right fielder Will Venable (6-for-38) and left fielder Lance Blanks (6-for-44) are also mired in deep slumps.
San Francisco could get catcher Bengie Molina back from a minor hamstring injury that sidelined him Sunday.
Center field Aaron Rowand has been on a tear since returning from multiple fractures of his cheekbone. Roward has hit safely in all seven games and is 11-for-32 (.344) with three homers and 11 RBIs.