Giants at Nationals
The San Francisco Giants will look to Matt Cain to keep the surging Washington Nationals in check when the clubs play the finale of their three-game series on Thursday. Washington won its fourth straight at home and sixth of eight overall with a 9-4 triumph on Wednesday. Ryan Zimmerman provided the fireworks with a homer and three RBIs as the Nationals returned to a season-high 15 games over .500.
While Washington moved 4 1/2 games ahead of second-place New York in the National League East, San Francisco's fourth loss in five contests dropped it a half-game behind Los Angeles in the NL West. Cain will be pitching on five days' rest when he takes the mound on Thursday. The Nationals have recorded 12 extra-base hits in the series thus far.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, CSBA (San Francisco), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (9-3, 2.53 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Ross Detwiler (4-3, 3.30)
Cain suffered his first loss since May 1 after he matched a season high by allowing five runs and 11 hits in a 5-1 setback to Cincinnati on Friday. Cain yielded two runs on six hits in eight innings to take the hard-luck loss.
Detwiler will vie for his first win since June 5 when he takes the mound Thursday. The 26-year-old received a no-decision after yielding four runs on five hits in 6 2/3 innings versus Atlanta on Friday. Detwiler is 0-1 in his career versus San Francisco after being touched for four runs on 10 hits in a previous outing.
WALK-OFFS
1. Pablo Sandoval provided the pop for San Francisco, going 3-for-4 with three RBIs on Wednesday. The Kung Fu Panda is 1-for-3 in his career versus Detwiler.
2. After being ice cold (5-for-50), Zimmerman has certainly warmed up with the weather. He is batting .370 with four homers in his last 10 games. Zimmerman is 6-for-22 with a homer in his career versus Cain.
3. Washington's Jhonatan Solano, who went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on Wednesday, recorded his third multi-hit game of the season.