Diamondbacks at Giants
The San Francisco Giants have recorded consecutive wins for the first time this season but received a major scare when catcher Buster Posey was hit in the head by a Taijuan Walker pitch in the first inning Monday. Posey will almost surely miss Tuesday’s matchup against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, who opened their 10-game road trip with Monday’s 4-1 loss to the Giants.
Posey will undergo concussion tests but was reportedly feeling okay following the contest, which the Giants won behind eight dominant innings from Matt Moore. Nick Hundley would move into Posey’s starting spot if the four-time All-Star is forced to miss any time, with Aaron Hill serving as the team’s emergency catcher. After scoring a total of 48 runs during their first seven games, the Diamondbacks hit the road for the first time Monday and were limited to four hits - including a solo homer by left fielder Yasmany Tomas. Shortstop Chris Owings continued his strong start with a ninth-inning double off Mark Melancon and is batting .345 with a homer, five RBIs and four stolen bases.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FSN Arizona Plus, NBC Sports Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LHP Robbie Ray (0-0, 4.76 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (0-1, 10.13)
Ray experienced mixed results in his season debut against the Giants last Thursday, receiving a no-decision after yielding three runs on three hits with three walks over 5 2/3 innings. The 25-year-old is hoping to build on his development from last season, when he set career highs in wins (8), starts (32), innings (174 1/3) and strikeouts (218). Hundley is 3-for-8 with a homer against Ray, who owns a 1-1 mark and 3.90 ERA in five career starts against the Giants.
Samardzija is facing Arizona for the second time in less than a week after allowing six runs on eight hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings in last Thursday’s 9-3 loss. The 32-year-old is 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 13 career games (eight starts) against the Diamondbacks, including 2-0 with a 2.91 ERA in three outings last season. Jake Lamb is 4-for-10 with a home run against Samardzija, but Paul Goldschmidt (5-for-24, home run) and Daniel Descalso (3-for-20) have each struggled against the 2014 All-Star.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco SS Brandon Crawford has reached base safely via hit or walk in each of his last 29 games, dating back to Sept. 6 of last season.
2. Lamb owns a career .333 (22-for-66) average with three homers and seven RBI in 22 games at AT&T Park.
3. The Giants activated RHP Hunter Strickland from the paternity leave list and optioned LHP Steven Okert to Triple-A Sacramento.