Giants at Angels
Desperate to kick-start their anemic offense, the San Francisco Giants hope they've found a long-term solution in outfielder Mac Williamson. After belting a two-run homer in his season debut Friday, the 27-year-old will surely be in the lineup again Saturday when the Giants continue their three-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels.
Jeff Samardzija came off the disabled list and tossed five scoreless innings in Friday’s 8-1 victory, but the real story was the sudden power surge by the Giants, who had scored a total of six runs over their previous four games. Nick Hundley, Andrew McCutchen and Williamson each homered to provide a much-needed boost for the Giants’ offense, which entered the game hitting .154 (19-for-123) with runners in scoring position. The Angels have lost four in a row following a seven-game winning streak and need more production from right fielder Kole Calhoun, who was dropped to eighth in the order Friday and is hitting .192 after going hitless in three at-bats. Japanese two-way sensation Shohei Ohtani had two singles while batting sixth and hopes to take the mound on Monday after leaving his last outing early with a blister on his right middle finger.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Derek Holland (0-2, 4.60 ERA) vs. Angels RH Garrett Richards (2-0, 3.60)
Holland is still seeking his first win with the Giants after allowing three runs over 4 2/3 innings against San Diego last Saturday. The 31-year-old has appeared in more games against the Angels than any other team over his career, going 10-8 with a 5.21 ERA in 28 games (25 starts). Albert Pujols is 11-for-37 with four homers against Holland, who spent his first eight years with Texas before moving to the Chicago White Sox last season.
Richards struggled with his control again last Saturday against Kansas City but earned the win after giving up one run on one hit over five-plus innings. The injury-plagued 29-year-old has walked at least three batters in each of his first four starts while striking out 24 across 20 innings. Richards is 4-2 with a 1.42 ERA in 18 career interleague games (11 starts) and has limited Austin Jackson to one hit in 15 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco is 7-2 this season when scoring first and 1-9 in games their opponent scores first.
2. The Angels have been outscored 35-4 during their four-game losing streak.
3. The Giants placed RF Hunter Pence (thumb) on the 10-day disabled list and optioned RHP Derek Law to Triple-A Sacramento.