San Diego @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2014 ) San Diego 6, San Francisco 0

The San Diego Padres attempt to clinch a rare series win when they host the San Francisco Giants in the middle contest of their three-game series on Tuesday. San Diego, which scored a total of three runs in back-to-back losses to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, erupted offensively with a 6-0 triumph in Monday's opener. The top three batters in the Padres' lineup - Will Venable, Everth Cabrera and Seth Smith - combined to go 5-for-12 with two RBIs and four runs scored to back 27-year-old Cuban defector Odrisamer Despaigne, who scattered four hits over seven innings in his major-league debut.

San Diego has not captured a series since taking two of three from the White Sox in Chicago from May 30-June 1, its only series win since the middle of last month. San Francisco also has struggled of late, losing three consecutive series before winning two of three at Arizona this past weekend. The Giants managed four hits Monday and failed to advance a runner past second base.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN (San Diego), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jesse Hahn (2-1, 2.16 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (7-3, 2.39)

Hahn is seeking his third straight victory as he makes his fourth major-league start. The 24-year-old struggled against Pittsburgh in his debut before limiting the Mets to one hit over six scoreless innings June 14. Hahn, who has recorded 19 strikeouts in 16 2/3 frames, followed that impressive road performance by yielding an unearned run in seven innings in a win over Seattle on Thursday.

Hudson had his six-start unbeaten streak snapped Wednesday, when he was pounded by the White Sox for seven runs and 12 hits over 4 2/3 innings in a road loss. The 38-year-old did not allow an earned run in three of his previous four outings. Hudson, who is 5-0 at home this season, owns a 7-2 record and 2.71 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Padres.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego 3B Chase Headley (back) missed his fourth straight game Monday.

2. Giants OF Angel Pagan (back) has been sidelined for seven consecutive contests.

3. San Francisco placed INF Ehire Adrianza on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right hamstring.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Padres 3