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Giants welcome Indians to AT&T Park

Apr 25, 2014 - 2:34 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The San Francisco Giants return to AT&T Park Friday night to begin a three-game series with the Cleveland Indians.

San Francisco wrapped up a 2-4 road trip with a 12-10 win at Colorado in 11 innings on Wednesday. The offense came to life by slugging six home runs as the Giants avoided the series sweep.

Michael Morse and Hector Sanchez both went deep twice, and Sanchez sealed the outcome with his first career grand slam in the 11th inning.

"I couldn't be prouder of these guys," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, who was ejected by home-plate umpire Chris Conroy in the fourth for arguing a called third strike. "We're down, what, 5-1, looking at getting swept here and how hard they fought to find a way to win a game here. It makes for a better flight home and a day off."

It was a much needed outburst considering the Giants offense had produced a collective .166 batting average (and .063 with RISP) through the first five games of the trip. In fact, they had been held to two runs or fewer in six of their previous seven games, and 10 of their last 13 games have been decided by one run.

"We still have to do a little better job with men on base," Bochy said. "We're leaving some guys stranded, not moving guys. And that's got to pick up a little bit. But still, you're seeing better at-bats."

Not only will Friday mark the Giants' first interleague series, it will also be their first game this season against a team outside the NL West.

Cleveland has picked up wins in four of its last five games, including Thursday's 5-1 triumph over Kansas City to clinch a four-game series. Right- hander Corey Kluber was nearly untouchable, as he tossed his first complete game while notching a career-high 11 strikeouts. The Indians offense supported Kluber with a five-run fifth inning.

Toeing the rubber for the Tribe in Friday's series opener is right-hander Carlos Carrasco, who is winless with an 8.25 ERA over his last 16 big league starts dating back to 2011. He got a no-decision against Toronto on Sunday after allowing four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

For San Francisco, veteran Tim Hudson gets his first crack at Cleveland since he was with Oakland 10 years ago. The right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.40 ERA through his first four starts in 2014 and has lasted at least seven innings each time. He scattered eight hits and only two earned runs over seven frames at San Diego in his last outing.

This marks the first meeting between these two teams since 2011, when the Giants swept a three-game set at home. However, the Giants were among baseball's worst teams in interleague play last year, going 6-14.