Giants at Nationals
Gio Gonzalez is unbeaten in his last seven starts since dropping a decision at San Francisco on April 23, a loss he will try to avenge when the Washington Nationals continue a three-game series against the visiting Giants on Saturday afternoon. Gonzalez allowed three runs over five innings in the previous meeting, one of only two starts in which he has yielded more than two earned runs.
Center fielder Adam Eaton could be activated off the disabled list Saturday for Washington, which could use a solid outing from Gonzalez after Stephen Strasburg lasted only two innings in the series opener due to shoulder inflammation. Gonzalez will have a tough act to follow -- the newly minted champion Washington Capitals will be at the game with the Stanley Cup in tow and captain Alex Ovechkin will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Saturday. Andrew McCutchen has hit safely in five straight games and is 9-for-24 with three homers and six RBIs in that span for the Giants, who pounded out 15 hits in the opener of a 10-game road trip. Gorkys Hernández belted a two-run homer and Hunter Pence had two hits and two RBIs as San Francisco rolled to a 9-5 victory in the series opener to improve to 7-1 in its last eight games.
TV: 12:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), MASN (Washington)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Dereck RodrÃguez (1-0, 1.93 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (6-2, 2.27)
Rodriguez rebounded from a shaky performance in his major league debut to win his first career start in his second appearance, limiting Philadelphia to one run and five hits while striking out six over six innings. The son of Hall of Fame catcher Pudge Rodriguez gave up four runs (one earned) in 3 1/3 innings of relief at Colorado on May 29. Opponents are 3-for-15 against him with runners on base.
Gonzalez did not factor in the decision last time out at Atlanta despite striking out a season-high nine and allowing three runs on five hits over seven innings. He has five quality starts during his current unbeaten streak and has yet to permit more than three runs this season. Buster Posey (9-for-29) and McCutchen (7-for-23) have fared well against Gonzalez, who has split 10 decisions against the Giants.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants SS Brandon Crawford is riding an eight-game hitting streak, including six multiple-hit contests.
2. Nationals RH Justin Miller has retired 22 of 23 batters this season, including 14 strikeouts.
3. Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto (elbow) threw off a mound Friday for the first time since his last start on April 28.