San Francisco @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Jul 22, 2010 ) San Francisco 3, Arizona 0
There are times when Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton plays like the All-Star he was last season, but there are others when he plays like a 22-year-old still finding his way in the major leagues.
Right now, Upton is in one of his good stretches and he looks to keep it going Friday in the second game of four-game series against the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field.
Upton is in the midst of a nine-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 12 of 13 games, pushing his average to .275 with 16 home runs and 49 RBIs.
This latest hot streak comes on the heels of a 1-for-20 stretch.
It’s the epitome of Upton’s fourth season in the big leagues after being called up for the finals two months of the 2007 season.
He is going to have to stay hot for an extended period if he is going to match last year’s breakout season in which he hit .300 with his first 20-20 season (26 homers, 20 stolen bases).
The former No. 1 overall pick’s immediate focus will be to help the Diamondbacks get back into the win column after having their three-game winning streak halted in Game 1 of the series against the Giants.
Arizona will send right-hander Edwin Jackson (6-8, 4.96 ERA) to the mound to face left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (7-6, 3.42 ERA).
Jackson is just 1-2 with an ERA of 7.18 in his three starts since throwing the no-hitter against Tampa Bay, although he is coming off his best outing over that stretch.
He went 6 1/3 innings in a loss to San Diego, allowing four hits with four walks and seven strikeouts. His biggest nemesis has been his control - Jackson has allowed 19 walks over his last four starts, including eight in the no-hitter on June 25.
Jackson will be facing one of the league’s hottest lineups. Giants rookie Buster Posey has a 16-game hitting streak and Andres Torres has hit six of his nine home runs on the season since July 4. Aubrey Huff, meanwhile, is on pace to hit .300 with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.
Sanchez, in search of his first winning season in his third year as a starter, hopes the team continues to tear the cover off the ball as he takes the mound coming off two straight no-decisions.