San Francisco @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 29, 2010 ) Arizona 7, San Francisco 9
Don’t look now, but the San Francisco Giants are back in the thick of the race for the National League West crown.
With their sights set on overtaking first-place San Diego in the standings, the Giants will travel to battle the Arizona Diamondbacks in a three-game set that gets underway on Monday at Chase Field.
San Diego, which suffered its 10th straight loss in a 4-2 setback to Colorado on Sunday, chose a bad time to go cold with the Giants nipping at the Padres’ heels.
San Francisco (76-61) hasn’t been this close to first in 27 days, but are now within striking distance as the team has gained 5 ½ games in the standings during the San Diego’s skid in going 5-4 during that span.
The Giants are fresh off taking two-of-three from the rival Los Angeles Dodgers, capped by Sunday’s 3-0 triumph in which Jonathan Sanchez was outstanding through seven shutout innings.
Juan Uribe supplied the offense with a two-run shot - his second in as many days - and the always reliable Brian Wilson took care of the rest, tossing a perfect ninth inning for his NL-leading 40th save.
Despite tolling in the bottom of the standings in the West, Arizona (56-81) has refused to fold. Prior to dropping two straight to Houston, the Diamondbacks had won seven of eight - including taking two-of-three from the Giants.
San Francisco will entrust in 21-year-old rookie Madison Bumgarner (5-4, 3.75 ERA) in the opener as the club tries to grab a share of first place.
Bumgarner, who enjoyed a run of four consecutive victories in July, doesn’t have many wins to show for since. He is just 1-2 over his past seven starts despite pitching reasonably well.
Bumgarner gave up a run on five hits over six innings in a no-decision against Cincinnati his last time out.
The left-hander faced the Diamondbacks once this season, allowing two runs over seven innings of a 10-4 win on July 24.
Arizona turns to a youngster of its own when Ian Kennedy (9-9, 4.20 ERA) toes the rubber. The right-hander is enjoying a nice roll, picking up three straight wins while not suffering a loss in five starts.
Kennedy has made three starts against San Francisco in his brief career, going 1-1 with a 3.05 ERA. He was outdueled by Bumgarner on July 24 after surrendering four runs in 6 2/3 innings.