San Francisco @ Arizona preview
Chase Field
Last Meeting ( May 1, 2013 ) San Francisco 9, Arizona 6
After being shut out in their last game by the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner, the San Francisco Giants face a pitcher angling for this year's honor in their next contest. The skidding Giants have dropped 11 of their last 18 games heading into the first of a three-game road set Friday against the NL West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks. The defending World Series champion, which has scored a total of seven runs in five June games, was blanked Wednesday by Toronto’s R.A. Dickey.
A sudden offensive outburst seems unlikely against 23-year-old left-hander Patrick Corbin, who leads the majors in wins (nine) and ranks third in the NL in ERA (2.06). Unlike the Giants’ offense, Arizona has scored at least seven runs in five of its six June contests following Thursday’s 12-8 loss at the St. Louis Cardinals. Although Paul Goldschmidt went 0-for-2, the NL’s RBI leader drove in a run with a groundout in the loss and has pushed across at least one in six straight games.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN (Arizona)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (4-3, 5.45 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (9-0, 2.06)
Cain appeared on the verge of shaking off a poor start to his season after going 4-0 in five May starts but began June with a rollercoaster outing in Saturday’s 8-0 loss to the Cardinals. The three-time All-Star struck out a season-high nine over six frames but surrendered seven runs on a season-high nine hits. Cain, who is 5-1 with a 3.53 ERA at Chase Field since the start of the 2010 season, is 13-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 29 career outings against Arizona.
Corbin, named the NL Pitcher of the Month for May, collected his seventh win in as many turns Sunday against the Chicago Cubs. Although he gave up a season-high four earned runs and logged his first non-quality start, the left-hander went at least six innings for the 12th straight time dating back to last season. Corbin’s winning streak began after he settled for a no-decision following 7 1/3 strong innings on April 23 against the Giants, against whom he is 2-1 with a 4.45 ERA in five career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Diamondbacks (14) and Giants (12) rank first and tied for second, respectively, in the majors in one-run victories.
2. Arizona has scored a major league-high 46 runs in June.
3. Three of the Giants’ 10 road wins came during a three-game sweep against the Diamondbacks from April 29-May 1.
PREDICTION: Diamondbacks 5, Giants 3