Pittsburgh @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 9, 2018 ) Pittsburgh 10, San Francisco 5

The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants are streaking in opposite directions as they attempt to remain in postseason contention. Pittsburgh seeks its fourth straight victory when it visits San Francisco on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series.

Elias Diaz and Josh Bell hit back-to-back homers in the second inning while David Freese added a three-run shot -- the 100th home run of his career -- during a five-run seventh for the Pirates, who are four games back in the National League wild-card race after posting a 10-5 victory in the series opener. Bell has driven in a run in each of his two contests since returning from a stint on the disabled list Wednesday. Joe Panik and Steven Duggar recorded two RBIs apiece in Thursday's loss, which was San Francisco's third in a row and fifth in six contests - putting it seven games out of a wild-card spot. Panik had gone 12 contests without plating a run after a stretch during which he notched two RBIs in three straight games.

TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Clay Holmes (1-1, 3.65 ERA) vs. Giants LH Derek Holland (5-8, 3.88)

Holmes is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to make his fifth career appearance and third start. The 25-year-old rookie from Alabama made his major-league debut April 6, a two-inning relief outing against Cincinnati in which he allowed one run, and came out of the bullpen again June 24 before making a pair of starts last month. Holmes recorded his first victory in his last turn July 14, when he scattered four hits over six scoreless frames versus Milwaukee.

Holland will be making his fourth straight start following a stretch in the bullpen but first at home since July 10, when he took the loss against the Chicago Cubs despite giving up one run in 6 1/3 innings. The 31-year-old native of Ohio has allowed two runs in each of his last three turns but did not factor in the decision in any of the contests. Holland notched the win in his first career start against the Pirates on May 13 as he worked 6 1/3 scoreless frames in Pittsburgh despite yielding four hits and five walks.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pirates 2B-OF Adam Frazier has recorded back-to-back three-hit performances and three in his last six contests.

2. San Francisco INF-OF Alen Hanson has tripled in each of his last two games to double his season total.

3. Trevor Williams will start for Pittsburgh on Saturday while fellow RHP Joe Musgrove takes the mound for the series finale a day later.

PREDICTION: Giants 4, Pirates 2