Giants at Diamondbacks
With
their nine-game losing streak against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the
rearview mirror, the San Francisco Giants take their newfound confidence
into the rubber match of the three-game series in Arizona on Sunday.
San Francisco starter Barry Zito is 3-8 lifetime against Arizona with a
5.42 ERA. He will oppose Joe Saunders, who is coming off his worst
performance of the season and is 0-3 lifetime in four starts against the
Giants.
The Diamondbacks will attempt to win their second home
series of the season. They have lost their last five since sweeping San
Francisco to open 2012 and are 7-11 at Chase Field. Arizona will have to
figure out a way to get Melky Cabrera out. The Giants left fielder is
18-for-42 (.429) in his last 10 games and 16-for-37 (.432) lifetime at
Chase Field.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, CS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Barry Zito (1-1, 2.21 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks LH Joe Saunders (2-2, 2.50)
Zito
allowed a season-high three earned runs in his last outing, a 9-1 loss
at Los Angeles on Monday. Zito walked four and has issued 11 free passes
in his last two starts. He pitched a four-hit shutout in his season
opener at Colorado on April 9 and had four no-decisions prior to Monday.
The Diamondbacks are hitting .272 against Zito, with Miguel Montero
3-for-8 with three doubles and six RBIs.
Saunders yielded seven
runs (six earned) and nine hits (three homers) in 3 1/3 innings in
Arizona’s 9-6 loss to St. Louis on Monday. He recorded five quality
starts in his previous five outings this season, including a three-hit
shutout at Miami three starts back. The Giants are hitting a robust .346
against Saunders, but only have one homer and five RBIs in 81 at-bats.
Aubrey Huff is 11-for-26 (one RBI).
WALK-OFFS
1. Matt Cain was the winning pitcher and provided a key two-run double in the Giants’ 5-2 victory Saturday.
2. The Diamondbacks have struck out a major league-leading 278 times.
3.
The Giants are 15-0 when leading or tied after eight innings despite
the absence of closer Brian Wilson, who is out for the season after
undergoing Tommy John surgery.