Arizona Diamondbacks (15-20) at San Francisco Giants (20-16) live streaming Thursday, May 12 - 3:45 PM EST from AT&T Park, San Francisco, California. Game Review: Matt Cain believes the San Francisco Giants are never out of any game until the final out is recorded. That's certainly true given their penchant for late-game heroics recently.
Andres Torres' ground-rule double in the sixth inning snapped a 3-3 tie, and Brian Wilson worked out of a jam in the ninth to notch his 12th save as the defending World Champions matched their longest home winning streak from 2010.
"If you look at what we did last year, it was somebody different it seemed like coming up with the big game-changing contribution," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Wilson has three wins and two saves during the Giants' win streak, their longest at home since Aug. 23-28, 2007.
Backup catcher Henry Blanco had two hits, including a homer, and drove in two for the Diamondbacks (15-20). Arizona has dropped eight of nine away from home, with the last four defeats all being one-run decisions, and fell to 5-11 on the road.
For the second time in less than a month, Cain (2-2, 3.38 ERA) will be opposed by Daniel Hudson (3-4, 4.47).
On April 15, Cain gave up one run and four hits over six-plus innings to help San Francisco to a 5-2 win in Phoenix. Hudson matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in six innings, but allowed five runs, six hits and three walks.
Cain is 0-2 with a 4.94 ERA in four starts after that matchup. On Friday against Colorado, he exited after seven innings with the Giants trailing 3-1 before Freddy Sanchez's game-ending single resulted in a 4-3 win.
"We don't ever really feel like we're out of it until it's over," Cain told the Giants' official website after allowing three runs and five hits.
Cain is 2-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his last five home starts against Arizona. Both wins were complete games and included a one-hitter in a 5-0 victory on May 28, when the right-hander allowed only a two-out double in the second inning to Mark Reynolds and struck out nine.
Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew was held without a hit for only the third time in 11 road games Wednesday, but is batting .345 (10 for 27) with three homers and seven RBIs against Cain.
Hudson has turned things around lately.
The right-hander received only four runs of support over 24 1/3 innings while losing his first four starts of 2011, but has gotten plenty of help since. In winning each of his last three starts, Hudson has been given 16 runs of support through 20 innings.
On Friday, Hudson permitted five hits in seven innings of a 6-0 win over last-place San Diego.
Hudson won his only career start in San Francisco, 11-3 on Aug. 28 thanks to the Diamondbacks plating six in the first inning.
GAME: Arizona Diamondbacks (15-20) at San Francisco Giants (20-16)Cain will try to help San Francisco close a six-game run at AT&T Park with an unblemished record while seeking its third consecutive win Thursday afternoon against the Arizona Diamondbacks, who continue to come up a little short playing on the road.
DATE/TIME: Thursday, May 12 - 3:45 PM EST
WHERE: AT&T Park, San Francisco, California
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
THE STORY: Much like last season, the San Francisco Giants are making a habit of winning in dramatic fashion. The Giants are 11-3 in one-run games, and the team already has five walk-off wins. San Francisco has won five straight heading into Thursday’s game against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks, who have lost four of their last five and fallen a season-worst five games under .500After winning three of its previous four in walk-off fashion, including 1-0 in Tuesday's opener, San Francisco (20-16) rallied from an early three-run deficit and held on for a 4-3 win Wednesday.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area
PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Daniel Hudson (3-4, 4.47) vs. Giants RHP Matt Cain (2-2, 3.37)
Hudson won his third straight with seven scoreless innings while striking out six against San Diego last Saturday. He is 2-1 with a 3.15 ERA in three career starts against San Francisco. Freddy Sanchez is 3-for-9 with a home run against Hudson.
Cain gave up three runs on five hits over seven innings against Colorado last Friday. He is 7-4 with a 3.19 ERA in 18 career starts against Arizona. Stephen Drew is 10-for-29 (.345) with three home runs against Cain, while Miguel Montero is 4-for-20 (.200).
ABOUT THE DIAMONDBACKS (15-20): Josh Collmenter, who has a 1.29 ERA in 14 innings out of the bullpen, is moving into the starting rotation. The right hander will get the start this Saturday against the Dodgers, and it appears he’ll remain in the rotation with a solid outing. Arizona entered Wednesday with the third-worst starters’ ERA (4.86) in the league, and Armando Galarraga’s spot may be in jeopardy after another shaky start Wednesday. Zach Duke (hand) could take his place in another month, but don’t expect to see top prospects Jarrod Parker and Tyler Skaggs soon. General manager Kevin Towers said the team doesn’t want to rush either of them. While the starting rotation has been a concern, the Diamondbacks’ bullpen has been a pleasant surprise. Closer J.J. Putz has converted his first seven save opportunities, and four relievers combined for 2 2/3 scoreless innings on Wednesday.
ABOUT THE GIANTS (20-16): San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy might have a tough decision to make when Barry Zito (foot) returns from the disabled list in 3-4 weeks. Ryan Vogelsong has replaced Zito in the rotation and gone 2-0 with a 3.05 ERA in three starts. Bochy will likely move Vogelsong to long relief when Zito returns, but Vogelsong could make his decision a little tougher with several more quality starts. Third baseman Pablo Sandoval (hand) fielded ground balls with a cast Tuesday and is expected to miss at least four more weeks. Mark DeRosa is expected to see most of the time at third base with Sandoval out, but Miguel Tejada got the start Wednesday and went 3-for-4 to improve his average to .213.
FINAL PITCH: San Francisco closer Brian Wilson will likely be unavailable Thursday after pitching in five games over the past six days. Over his last 10 games, Wilson has pitched 10 straight scoreless innings while striking out 13 and recording seven saves and three wins.
Andres Torres' ground-rule double in the sixth inning snapped a 3-3 tie, and Brian Wilson worked out of a jam in the ninth to notch his 12th save as the defending World Champions matched their longest home winning streak from 2010.
"If you look at what we did last year, it was somebody different it seemed like coming up with the big game-changing contribution," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy.
Wilson has three wins and two saves during the Giants' win streak, their longest at home since Aug. 23-28, 2007.
Backup catcher Henry Blanco had two hits, including a homer, and drove in two for the Diamondbacks (15-20). Arizona has dropped eight of nine away from home, with the last four defeats all being one-run decisions, and fell to 5-11 on the road.
Gameday Lineups"We had a ton of chances early," Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said. "We had chances to keep them from scoring, too."
NO. Arizona San Francisco
1. K. Johnson, 2B A. Torres, CF
2. G. Parra, CF F. Sanchez, 2B
3. X. Nady, LF A. Huff, 1B
4. S. Drew, SS C. Ross, LF
5. J. Upton, RF N. Schierholtz, RF
6. R. Branyan, 1B M. Tejada, SS
7. R. Roberts, 3B M. DeRosa, 3B
8. M. Montero, C E. Whiteside, C
9. D. Hudson, P M. Cain, P
For the second time in less than a month, Cain (2-2, 3.38 ERA) will be opposed by Daniel Hudson (3-4, 4.47).
On April 15, Cain gave up one run and four hits over six-plus innings to help San Francisco to a 5-2 win in Phoenix. Hudson matched a career high with 10 strikeouts in six innings, but allowed five runs, six hits and three walks.
Cain is 0-2 with a 4.94 ERA in four starts after that matchup. On Friday against Colorado, he exited after seven innings with the Giants trailing 3-1 before Freddy Sanchez's game-ending single resulted in a 4-3 win.
"We don't ever really feel like we're out of it until it's over," Cain told the Giants' official website after allowing three runs and five hits.
Cain is 2-0 with a 1.41 ERA in his last five home starts against Arizona. Both wins were complete games and included a one-hitter in a 5-0 victory on May 28, when the right-hander allowed only a two-out double in the second inning to Mark Reynolds and struck out nine.
Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew was held without a hit for only the third time in 11 road games Wednesday, but is batting .345 (10 for 27) with three homers and seven RBIs against Cain.
Hudson has turned things around lately.
The right-hander received only four runs of support over 24 1/3 innings while losing his first four starts of 2011, but has gotten plenty of help since. In winning each of his last three starts, Hudson has been given 16 runs of support through 20 innings.
On Friday, Hudson permitted five hits in seven innings of a 6-0 win over last-place San Diego.
Hudson won his only career start in San Francisco, 11-3 on Aug. 28 thanks to the Diamondbacks plating six in the first inning.
