Washington @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( May 26, 2010 ) Washington 7, San Francisco 3
The return of Edgar Renteria from the disabled list lasted all of three games.
The San Francisco Giants shortstop went back on the disabled list Wednesday after suffering a hamstring injury during Tuesday’s contest against the Washington Nationals.
Renteria had played in just game in May prior to being activated over the weekend. The ailment then was a groin injury.
The latest injury means Juan Uribe is back as the starting shortstop for the Giants, who have lost six of their last seven games entering today’s series finale against the Nationals.
Renteria went 4-for-10 with two stolen bases during his short return to raise his season average to .326. He was injured running to first base after laying down a sacrifice bunt.
Renteria was a force in April, when the Giants got off to a strong start, and the team has suffered during his absence.
Uribe leads the Giants in RBIs with 26 and hit his team-leading sixth homer during Wednesday’s loss but he’s nowhere near the caliber of defensive shortstop as Renteria.
Uribe is more suited for the super-sub role where he rotates between shortstop, second base and third base. He has filled that job admirably for the Giants.
Left-hander Barry Zito will be on the mound today for the Giants and is looking to rebound from his worst start of the season.
Zito (6-2) was pounded for six runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings by the Oakland Athletics on Friday. He hadn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his other eight starts.
Zito has a 2.80 ERA this season. He’s 2-2 with a 4.33 ERA in six career starts against Washington.
The Nationals will counter with right-hander Craig Stammen, who has a 5.96 ERA in nine starts.
Stammen (1-2) has gone six straight starts without winning, his lone victory of the season coming on April 19.
Opposing hitters are batting .304 against Stammen, who gave up six runs – four earned – and nine hits in 5 1/3 innings against Baltimore in his last start.
Left fielder Josh Willingham has been swinging a hot bat for Washington. Willingham had two hits and two RBIs in Wednesday’s victory and is batting .360 (9-of-25) over his last eight games.
Willingham leads the Nationals with 29 RBIs and his eight homers are tied for second on the club.
Shortstop Ian Desmond had three RBIs in Wednesday’s victory, all of them coming on two two-out singles against Giants ace Tim Lincecum. Desmond has 23 RBIs.