San Francisco @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 3, 2013 ) San Francisco 2, San Diego 3

Tim Lincecum’s last visit to San Diego’s Petco Park turned into a memorable night as the San Francisco right-hander struck out 13 and threw the first no-hitter of his career back on July 13. The Giants attempt to salvage the finale of the three-game series against the host Padres on Wednesday as Lincecum looks for another strong performance. Lincecum threw 148 pitches in his no-hitter and right fielder Hunter Pence made a sensational catch to end the eighth and preserve it.

Outfielder Will Venable has been San Diego’s top player over the past two months and the organization rewarded him with a two-year, $8.5 million contract extension on Tuesday. The left-handed hitting Venable batted .367 with eight homers in August and is batting .272 overall with a career-best 20 homers. San Francisco catcher Buster Posey left Tuesday’s game in the seventh after taking balls off his mask and right hand and is questionable for the finale.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), FSN (San Diego)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (8-13, 4.38 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Stults (8-12, 3.81)

Lincecum has won back-to-back starts and tossed six shutout innings against Arizona in his last turn. He has given up two or fewer runs in five of his last nine outings, beginning with the no-hitter. Lincecum is 2-1 with a 0.79 ERA in three starts against San Diego this season and is 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA in 25 career outings.

Stults pitched well in the first half of the season but is 0-5 with a 4.91 ERA over his last eight starts. His last victory came against the Giants on July 14 when he allowed one run and five hits in six innings. Stults is 1-1 with a 5.01 ERA in four 2013 starts against San Francisco, and his career mark is 5-3 with a 4.82 ERA in 15 appearances (13 starts).

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego RHP Huston Street recorded his 27th save Tuesday and hasn’t allowed a run in 20 consecutive appearances (20 1/3 innings) since June 23.

2. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval (9-for-17) and C Buster Posey (7-for-15, one homer) have fared well against Stults.

3. Padres 3B Chase Headley (back) has missed seven consecutive games but could be available for the finale.

PREDICTION: Padres 9, Giants 2