Reds at Giants
The San Francisco Giants had two starting position players return to the lineup Thursday but still weren’t able to solve the Cincinnati Reds, who have won all four meetings between the teams this season. The Giants look to break the streak Friday as they continue their four-game series against the visiting Reds, who have won seven of their last eight overall.
The Giants have dropped six of their last seven games but received a spark in Thursday’s 3-2 loss from center fielder Denard Span, who went 4-for-5 with a double and a solo home run after missing about three weeks with a shoulder sprain. San Francisco fell to a major league-worst 12-24 despite the return of shortstop Brandon Crawford (groin), who went 1-for-4 from the cleanup spot in his return from the disabled list. The Giants have struggled to slow down Cincinnati and leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton, who has scored a run in 11 straight games, the longest streak by a Cincinnati player since Bip Roberts in 1992. Hamilton is 14-for-36 with one home run and nine RBIs during his eight-game hitting streak for the streaking Reds, who have won 15 of their last 20 games at AT&T Park.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Ohio (Cincinnati), NBC Sports Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Scott Feldman (2-3, 3.76 ERA) vs. Giants RH Johnny Cueto (4-2, 4.50)
Feldman is looking to duplicate his effort against San Francisco from last Sunday, when he recorded his fifth career complete game and third career shutout. The 34-year-old allowed four hits with one walk and five strikeouts while throwing 119 pitches. Brandon Belt is 2-for-11 against Feldman, who is 2-4 with a 2.78 ERA in seven career games (five starts) against the Giants.
Cueto was outdueled by Feldman last Sunday, when he took the loss despite allowing four runs (two earned) with a season-high 10 strikeouts over seven innings. The two-time All-Star has pitched into the seventh inning in four of his seven starts but has received zero runs of support in two of his last three outings. Cueto is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in his previous two outings covering 12 innings against his former team.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 3B Christian Arroyo is expected to be rested Friday for the first time since being called up from Triple-A on April 24.
2. Reds RHP Lisalverto Bonilla will start Saturday in place of RHP Rookie Davis, who was optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.
3. The Giants placed 3B Conor Gillaspie (back spasms) on the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Reyes Moronta to Double-A Richmond.