Giants at Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks seek to continue their recent mastery of the San Francisco Giants in Saturday’s second meeting of the season. Arizona defeated visiting San Francisco 5-4 in Friday’s opener to run their winning streak against the Giants to six consecutive games. The Diamondbacks defeated Giants ace Tim Lincecum for the fourth straight time while looking to establish that they should be the National League West favorites after winning the division last season.
The Giants won the World Series two years ago and would like to get off to a fast start. San Francisco catcher Buster Posey was one of the heroes of the title run and he had two hits in the opener after suffering a season-ending broken leg in a home-plate collision last year. Posey also was retired for the final out of the game by Arizona closer J.J. Putz. Chris Young and Paul Goldschmidt hit homers for the Diamondbacks.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Fox
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (2011: 13-13, 3.21 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Daniel Hudson (2011: 16-12, 3.49 ERA)
Bumgarner is looking to build on an impressive second half of last season. He went 9-4 with a 2.52 ERA in 15 starts after the All-Star break after being only 4-9 in the first half. The 22-year-old Bumgarner has never lost to Arizona, going 3-0 with a 2.41 ERA in six appearances (five starts).
Hudson was a 16-game winner in his first full major-league campaign. He proved to be a dependable workhorse with 222 innings and walked only 50 batters. Hudson is 4-2 with a 2.59 ERA in six career starts against the Giants. He has limited San Francisco hitters to a .204 average.
WALK-OFFS
1. Off-season acquisition Melky Cabrera had two hits, including a two-run homer, Friday.
2. Arizona outfielders Justin Upton (6-for-9) and Young (6-for-12) have hit well against Bumgarner.
3. Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval is 5-for-12 with two homers against Hudson.