San Francisco @ Tampa Bay preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 3, 2013 ) San Francisco 1, Tampa Bay 2

Guillermo Moscoso makes his first start for the San Francisco Giants in Sunday’s series finale against the Tampa Bay Rays, who sit one game behind first-place Boston in the American League East. The Giants had their three-game winning streak snapped after Saturday’s 2-1 setback in 10 innings, but they still have a chance for their third consecutive series win. Moscoso’s time in the rotation could be short with Ryan Vogelsong (hand) expected to return soon.

The Rays have won 24 of their last 30 games despite Evan Longoria’s troubling lack of production. The third baseman is hitless in his last 14 at-bats, and he batted just .194 in 25 games last month. “You know he’s going to get hot,” Rays manager Joe Maddon said. “He’s going to get back to where he had been.” While Longoria is slumping, rookie Wil Myers is batting .413 (19-for-46) since the All-Star break.

TV: 1:40 p.m. ET, CSNBA (San Francisco), Sun Sports (Tampa Bay)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Guillermo Moscoso (0-0, 6.75 ERA) vs. Rays RH Roberto Hernandez (6-11, 4.71)

Moscoso is starting in place of Barry Zito, who was pulled from the starting rotation after posting a 9.97 ERA in nine road outings. The 29-year-old joined the Giants last Sunday after being acquired from the Cubs. “He’s a guy with a good arm that we think a lot of,” manager Bruce Bochy said of Moscoso, who went 7-5 with a 3.93 ERA in 17 starts with Triple-A Iowa before the trade.

Hernandez recorded his first complete game since 2010 on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, allowing two runs while striking out six. “That was, by far, the sharpest he’s been,” Maddon said. “Everything was working.” The 32-year-old, who is 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in three interleague starts this season, has worked six innings or more in seven of his last nine outings.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rays have scored a total of 15 runs with Hernandez in the game during his 11 losses.

2. Giants’ starting pitchers have allowed a total of four earned runs over the last four games - covering a stretch of 29 innings.

3. The Giants are 30-28 against teams that are .500 or better, compared to 19-32 against opponents below .500.

PREDICTION: Rays 5, Giants 3