Arizona @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 25, 2010 ) San Francisco 3, Arizona 2
The suddenly hot-hitting San Francisco Giants will seek to keep the runs and hits coming Friday night when they open a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Giants rolled up 38 runs and 53 hits in a three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds, scoring 11 or more runs in each game. San Francisco won the first two games before succumbing 12-11 in 12 innings during Wednesday’s finale.
Third baseman Pablo Sandoval went 10-for-16 with seven RBIs in the series and second baseman Freddy Sanchez went 9-for-11. Center fielder Andre Torres was 6-for-15 with eight RBIs and first baseman Aubrey Huff was 6-for-13 with five RBIs.
It was an amazing show of offense from a team that has struggled to produce runs much of the season.
San Francisco may need to keep the offensive prowess going tonight with struggling Tim Lincecum on the mound.
The two-time Cy Young Award winner has lost a career-worst four straight decisions and has been hit hard during the stretch. Lincecum has allowed 18 earned runs in 19 1/3 innings for a horrific 8.38 earned-run average.
Lincecum has tinkered with his windup and mechanics trying to pinpoint the issue but the adjustments have been to no avail. He has allowed 28 hits and nine walks during the last four outings.
Lincecum’s record has dipped to 11-8 and his ERA has risen to 3.72. He has just one victory in his last seven starts.
Struggling against Arizona would be alarming as Lincecum is 5-1 with a 2.35 ERA in 11 career starts against the Diamondbacks.
He has two no-decisions against the Diamondbacks this season, allowing seven runs in 13 innings against Arizona.
Traditionally, he has handled many of the key Diamondbacks hitters. Outfielder Chris Young is just 3-for-31 (.097) against Lincecum and third baseman Mark Reynolds is batting .158 in 19 career at-bats.
Second baseman Kelly Johnson (.143 in 21 at-bats), shortstop Stephen Drew (.161 in 31 at-bats) and catcher Miguel Montero (.130 in 23 at-bats) also have struggled.
Drew is coming off a monster series against San Diego in which he went 7-for-14 with three homers, four doubles and six RBIs. Arizona defeated San Diego 11-5 on Thursday for its first win in nine games at Petco Park this season.
Right-hander Barry Enright starts for Arizona. He was matched up against Lincecum last month, getting a no-decision after allowing two runs and eight hits in six innings.
Enright hasn’t allowed more than three runs in any of his 10 starts. He has allowed only one run on four occasions.
Enright, with a 4-2 record and 2.73 ERA, hasn’t lost since July 11.