San Francisco @ New York preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 17, 2013 ) San Francisco 8, NY Mets 5

The San Francisco Giants are trying to avoid a dubious distinction as the second defending World Series champion ever to finish in last place. The visiting Giants look to pad their cushion to dodge that fate with a second straight victory over the New York Mets on Wednesday. The Giants won the opener of the three-game series 8-5 on Tuesday to move 1 1/2 games clear of last-place Colorado in the National League West.

The Mets are well ahead of last-place Miami in the NL East, but are 16 games below .500 and have gone 3-6 on their current homestand. Giants right-hander Matt Cain looks for better results than his last meeting with the Mets, which he left without escaping the first inning after allowing three runs and walking three in the opening frame July 10 in San Francisco. New York had won five straight meetings before the series opener.

TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), SNY (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (8-9, 4.24 ERA) vs. Mets RH Aaron Harang (5-12, 5.70)

Cain has posted quality starts in seven of his last eight outings but has only two wins over that stretch. He turned in another strong performance last time out against the Dodgers, allowing two runs - one earned - over seven innings in a no-decision. The 28-year-old is 5-5 with a 4.00 ERA in 11 starts against the Mets.

Harang had moments of brilliance in his Mets debut, striking out 10 and allowed three runs on four his over six innings. All three runs came on solo home runs, and the 35-year-old has allowed 24 long balls in 23 starts this season. Harang is 7-7 with a 3.13 ERA in 18 starts against the Giants.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Francisco RF Hunter Pence has at least one RBI in seven straight games, matching the longest streak by a Giants player since J.T. Snow did it in eight straight in 2003. Pence is 10-for-33 versus Harang.

2. The Mets had hoped to have 3B David Wright back in the lineup for this series, but the All-Star's strained right hamstring is still sore. Wright has not played since Aug. 2.

3. After making only two errors in their previous 17 games, the Giants made two Tuesday.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Mets 3