• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Giants-Braves Preview

Jul 20, 2009 - 4:51 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

San Francisco (49-41) at Atlanta (45-46), 7:10 p.m. EDT

The subject of trade rumors and largely an afterthought in the San Francisco Giants' talented stable of starters, there didn't seem to be much Jonathan Sanchez could do to solidify a spot in the rotation.

His latest performance just might have done the job.

Sanchez became the first Giants pitcher to throw a no-hitter in nearly 33 years in his last outing, and he'll hope to build on that success Monday night as visiting San Francisco opens a four-game set with the Atlanta Braves.

With many expecting the Giants (50-41) to add a hitter or two to their inconsistent lineup prior to July 31, Sanchez's name was mentioned as potential trade bait.

The talented left-hander has struck out more than one batter per inning during the first four years of his career, but control problems have limited Sanchez (3-8, 4.69 ERA) from joining Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain at the front of San Francisco's rotation.

Sanchez' latest start may have been the first step to paving his way there. The 26-year-old had been relegated to the bullpen in late June, but returned to the rotation with a flurry, striking out 11 while no-hitting San Diego on July 10 in an 8-0 victory.

"He's always had the equipment," manager Bruce Bochy told the Giants' official Web site, "(but) I think if you looked at the staff, he wouldn't be the one you picked. He came out throwing 94-96 (mph). He just had incredible stuff."

It was San Francisco's first no-hitter since John Montefusco achieved the feat in a 9-0 win over Atlanta on Sept. 29, 1976.

Sanchez is 3-1 with a 3.27 ERA at home, but if he hopes to match Cincinnati's Johnny Vander Meer in 1938 as the only pitcher to toss consecutive no-hitters, he'll have to find a way to overcome his troubles on the road. He's 0-7 with a 6.62 ERA in seven starts away from AT&T Park, issuing 30 walks in 35 1-3 innings.

"That's my goal (in Atlanta), to go six, seven innings," Sanchez said. "That's my goal right now. I've got to do that."

Sanchez's last win prior to his no-hitter came against Atlanta (46-46) on May 25. He gave up two runs and four hits over five innings in an 8-2 victory.

San Francisco's starters posted a 1.77 ERA in 20 1-3 innings in Pittsburgh over the weekend, but had to rally to avoid being swept. Bengie Molina had three hits and Nate Schierholtz's two-run double keyed a 4-3 victory Sunday.

Those four runs were three more than the Giants scored in the series' first two games, and they may have trouble again at the plate against Tommy Hanson (4-0, 2.85).

After a rough first start in the majors on June 7, Hanson went 4-0 with a 0.90 ERA in his next five outings. Hanson, though, yielded four runs and six hits over five innings July 9 at Colorado, a game the Braves lost 7-6, and was sent to Single-A Myrtle Beach to work over the break.

The Braves have averaged 5.6 runs in winning five of their last eight, and Yunel Escobar has led the way. Atlanta's shortstop is 8 for 16 (.500) with nine RBIs over his last six contests after homering and driving in four Sunday in a 7-1 win over the New York Mets.

"He's come through the entire series with his glove and his bat," manager Bobby Cox said of Escobar, who's 8 of 11 hitting sixth in the order. "He's tough with men on base. After we dropped him down ... he's driving in a lot of runs."

The Braves have lost five straight to the Giants - a three-game sweep in San Francisco from May 25-27 included - scoring six runs total.