Pittsburgh @ San Francisco preview
AT&T Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 24, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 3, San Francisco 6
The San Francisco Giants try to earn a split of their four-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates when the teams meet in the series finale Sunday. San Francisco dropped the first two contests before pouncing on Francisco Liriano for four runs in the first inning en route to a 6-3 triumph Saturday. Pablo Sandoval drove in a pair of runs and Buster Posey collected three hits and an RBI as the Giants halted a three-game losing streak by winning for just the second time in seven contests.
Tony Sanchez hit his first major-league homer and added an RBI single as Pittsburgh dropped into a tie with the St. Louis Cardinals for first place in the National League Central. The Pirates (76-53) are even with the Cardinals, Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers for the second-best record in baseball, one game behind the Atlanta Braves (77-52). Pittsburgh is 4-2 on its seven-game road trip, while San Francisco is 2-4 on its seven-game homestand.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH A.J. Burnett (6-8, 3.09 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (2-4, 6.29)
Burnett on Tuesday rebounded from a pair of rough outings, allowing one run and four hits over seven innings in a win at San Diego. The 36-year-old surrendered a total of 11 runs while going 0-1 in his previous two turns after yielding fewer than three earned runs in seven consecutive starts. Burnett has pitched very well against San Francisco over his career, going 6-2 with a 1.95 ERA in eight meetings.
Vogelsong failed to record a decision for the third straight start Tuesday despite allowing only two runs in seven innings against the Boston Red Sox. It was the longest outing since April 22 for the 36-year-old, who has yielded three earned runs or fewer in each of his last five starts. Vogelsong is 1-3 with a 4.50 ERA in four career outings against the Pirates.
WALK-OFFS
1. Burnett has won back-to-back starts once this season, defeating St. Louis on April 27 and Washington six days later.
2. Giants OF Angel Pagan, who underwent hamstring surgery in June, is expected to return when rosters expand Sept. 1.
3. The Pirates placed OF Starling Marte (hand) on the 15-day disabled list prior to Saturday's game. OF Andrew Lambo was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis and went 0-for-3 with a walk.
PREDICTION: Pirates 5, Giants 2