San Francisco @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( May 30, 2010 ) Arizona 5, San Francisco 6

The whispers began at the end of last season that Aubrey Huff was done.

The San Francisco Giants took a chance regardless – and it has paid off in a big way.

Huff will look to continue his rebound season in the opener of four-game series Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

The 33-year-old first baseman/outfielder is in the midst of one his big years in a career full of ups and downs. Huff is hitting .300 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs, and has helped propel the Giants into second place in the National League West.

His power bat in the middle of the Giants lineup is a bit of a surprise after a very rough 2009. Most believed Huff’s left-handed bat had slowed after his dismal performance in the final months of the season.

Detroit acquired him from Baltimore for the stretch run and he hit a dismal .189 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 40 games. It’s not exactly what the Tigers needed and left his final season numbers (.241, 15 home runs, 85 RBIs) lacking the glimmer of his 2008 campaign.

In his final full season with the Orioles in ’08, Huff hit .304 with 32 home runs and 108 RBIs, the second time on his career that he eclipsed .300, 30 home runs and 100 RBI in the same season.

Huff is on a similar pace this year and Giants starter Matt Cain hopes it continues in the series opener against the Diamondbacks.

Cain (7-8, 3.30 ERA) is coming off one of his better starts, winning for the first time since June 13 after limiting the Mets to four hits, two earned runs and a walk with three strikeouts in seven innings in his last outing.

The right-hander has had a frustrating season after a career year in 2009, but can still manage his first back-to-back winning seasons with a strong finish.
He’ll be opposed by Arizona’s Rodrigo Lopez (5-8, 4.62 ERA) as the Giants have won seven of their last nine entering heading into the series.

The Diamondbacks are coming into Thursday’s game after sweeping the Mets, including a 4-3 win in 14 innings on Wednesday.

Lopez gave up six earned runs in six innings in his last outing and might be wearing down. He has thrown more innings this season (122 2/3) than the previous two years combined (109 1/3).