St. Louis @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2018 ) St. Louis 2, San Francisco 3

After putting an end to their four-game overall slide, the San Francisco Giants aim for their sixth win in eight home contests when they continue their four-game series against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon. The Giants scored only five runs during their losing streak and again struggled to cross the plate on Friday but managed to eke out a 3-2 victory and even the set at one win apiece.

Pablo Sandoval belted a solo homer and Andrew McCutchen snapped a 2-2 tie with an RBI single in the seventh inning as San Francisco limited St. Louis to five hits after surrendering 18 in the series-opening 11-2 loss. Jedd Gyorko and Kolten Wong each recorded two hits for the Cardinals on Friday, with the latter driving in both runs. Wong, who delivered an RBI double in the second inning and a run-scoring triple in the seventh, has gone 4-for-8 over the first two games of the set. Gyorko also is swinging a hot bat as he is 5-for-8 with a double, a triple, a homer and five RBIs in the series.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Midwest (St. Louis), NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Carlos Martinez (5-4, 3.20 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (1-4, 6.56)

Martinez has put together back-to-back solid outings after being pounded at Milwaukee on June 21, allowing two runs over six innings in each - victories over Cleveland at home and Arizona on the road. The 26-year-old Dominican registered 15 strikeouts and issued only three walks in the triumphs while also keeping the ball in the park. Martinez, who owns a 4.32 ERA on the road and a 2.38 mark at home, is 2-1 with a 3.09 ERA in three career starts and two relief appearances against the Giants.

Samardzija returns from shoulder tightness to make his first start since May 29 - a loss at Colorado in which he gave up two runs and three hits in one inning before exiting with the ailment. The 33-year-old native of Indiana, who is winless since his season debut against the Los Angeles Angels on April 20, has made only three of his eight starts this year at home. Samardzija owns a 4-4 record and 3.68 ERA in 23 career games (12 starts) versus the Cardinals.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Cardinals activated SS Paul DeJong (hand), who went 1-for-3 and scored twice, from the 10-day disabled list on Friday and optioned LHP Austin Gomber to Triple-A Memphis.

2. San Francisco 2B Joe Panik left Friday's win with a strained left groin and is expected to land on the DL.

3. St. Louis sent LHP Tyler Lyons (elbow) and RHP Luke Gregerson (shoulder) to Memphis on rehab assignments.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 8, Giants 3