Diamondbacks at Giants
The Arizona Diamondbacks are enjoying one of the best seasons in franchise history and the San Francisco Giants are suffering through one of their worst, but very little has separated the National League West rivals when they have squared off this year. After squandering a late four-run lead en route to a crushing defeat in their last contest, the Diamondbacks hope to rebound by taking the rubber match of their three-game set in San Francisco on Sunday.
After using three perfect relief innings to hold on to a 2-1 victory in the series opener, Arizona took a 4-0 lead into the seventh inning Saturday before allowing five unanswered runs - including Jarrett Parker's two-out, walk-off infield single in the 10th to spoil what could have been its fourth straight win. Instead, the Diamondbacks fell one-half game behind second-place Colorado in the West and swapped places with the Rockies in the wild-card chase as well. NL West-worst San Francisco has alternated wins and losses since ending a four-game skid in Oakland on Tuesday, but the team has held its own against Arizona despite its overall struggles this season, going 4-5 against the Diamondbacks and outscoring them by a run (41-40). Hunter Pence has picked things up offensively of late, belting three of his nine homers this season during a seven-game hitting streak.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FSN Arizona, NBCSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Patrick Corbin (8-10, 4.77 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (6-11, 4.77)
After going 2-1 with a 2.59 ERA over his previous four outings. Corbin was blasted for eight runs and 10 hits - including three homers - while working a season-low three innings in a loss at the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday. The defeat left the 2013 All-Star with a 2-7 record and 7.06 ERA in 10 road turns this season. Pence is 14-for-28 with four home runs versus Corbin, who took the loss against the Giants on April 4 after permitting three runs in four frames.
Samardzija took advantage of some early run support and matched a season high by tossing eight innings Tuesday in Oakland, allowing four runs en route to his second victory in as many starts. The 32-year-old Notre Dame alum was masterful in his previous outing, yielding one run while fanning eight in seven frames against Pittsburgh on July 26. Samardzija made his first two starts of the season against the Diamondbacks in early April, taking the loss both times while giving up nine runs over 12 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Despite a 1-for-4 performance on Saturday, Diamondbacks 1B Paul Goldschmidt is batting .463 with four homers and 15 RBIs in 12 games since OF J.D. Martinez returned to the lineup.
2. Giants 3B Pablo Sandoval went 1-for-3 with a double on Saturday and scored a run in his first game with the team since Game 7 of the 2014 World Series.
3. Arizona C Jeff Mathis, who is batting .341 during an 11-game hitting streak, also stretched his on-base streak to a career-best 17 games.