Diamondbacks at Giants
The San Francisco Giants close their season-opening stretch of 14 games in 14 days with Sunday’s series finale against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The Giants snapped an eight-game losing streak Saturday with a 4-1 victory behind rookie Chris Heston, who recorded his third straight quality start.
Heston’s emergence has been a welcome surprise for the Giants, who placed Jake Peavy on the disabled list Saturday with a strained back. Yusmeiro Petit and Ryan Vogelsong are candidates to replace Peavy in the injury-plagued rotation, which will be without Matt Cain (strained flexor tendon) for several more weeks. Arizona manager Chip Hale continues to be impressed by rookie third baseman Jake Lamb, who was moved up to the second spot in the lineup Saturday and has reached base safely in 10 straight games. While Lamb has opened the season on a hot streak, second baseman Chris Owings is hitting .135 after going 0-for-4 on Saturday.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Jeremy Hellickson (0-2, 6.55 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Hudson (0-1, 2.03)
The Diamondbacks acquired Hellickson last November from Tampa Bay hoping the 28-year-old would benefit from a change of scenery, but so far the results have been decidedly mixed. The 2011 American League Rookie of the Year has allowed 21 base runners in his first two starts covering 11 frames. Hellickson faced the Giants on April 8 and took the loss after yielding three runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Hudson has received little run support in his first two starts, including last Tuesday when the veteran held Colorado to three runs over seven innings in a 4-1 loss. The 39-year-old has dominated Arizona throughout his career with a 9-1 record and 2.01 ERA in 13 starts, including 2-0 with a 1.15 ERA in two outings last season. Aaron Hill is 2-for-14 with eight strikeouts against the sinkerballer, while Paul Goldschmidt is 5-for-18 with four doubles.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt has opened the season with three hits in his first 29 at-bats.
2. Arizona OF David Peralta is 6-for-18 with a home run in five career games at AT&T Park.
3. The Giants recalled C Andrew Susac from Triple-A Sacramento to take Peavy’s roster spot.