Diamondbacks at Giants
Paul Goldschmidt aims to build off a mammoth performance when the Arizona Diamondbacks open a three-game series against the host San Francisco Giants on Friday. The five-time All-Star first baseman registered the first three-homer performance of his stellar career on Thursday, an outburst that included a tiebreaking blast in the ninth inning, as the Diamondbacks posted a 10-8 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Goldschmidt drove in six runs while raising his season outputs to 25 homers and 85 RBIs as Arizona remained one-half game ahead of Colorado for the National League's top wild-card spot. "It's crazy," Goldschmidt told reporters after the victory. "I know I've never hit three home runs. And then to win that game - it was a good one for our team." Madison Bumgarner will look to slow down Goldschmidt, who is batting .286 with two homers in 49 at-bats against the Giants' ace. The left-hander also would like to see the type of run support provided on Thursday, when his teammates registered seven extra-base hits during an 11-2 trouncing of Oakland.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Anthony Banda (0-1, 6.35 ERA) vs. Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (1-4, 2.92)
Banda will make his second major-league start as a fill-in for All-Star Robbie Ray, who will be skipped in the rotation as he recovers from being hit in the head by a line drive on July 28. The 23-year-old lost his debut against Washington on July 22, when he gave up four runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. Banda is 7-6 with a 5.13 ERA in 19 starts for Triple-A Reno this season.
Bumgarner is 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in four starts since returning from a shoulder injury stemming from his dirt-bike accident in April. The 28-year-old settled for a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing after allowing five hits and striking out seven in seven scoreless innings. Bumgarner, who is 9-7 with a 2.58 ERA in 27 career starts against Arizona, struck out a season-high 11 batters and gave up three runs over seven frames against the Diamondbacks on April 2 but wasn't involved in the decision.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks 3B Jake Lamb is batting .360 with two homers and eight RBIs against the Giants this season as Arizona owns a 4-3 series lead.
2. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt has homered twice in three games this month after going deep just once in July.
3. Arizona RHP Fernando Rodney has allowed one hit and struck out 11 over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his last six appearances.