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Rockies-Giants Preview

May 1, 2010 - 6:37 AM By MATT BEARDMORE STATS Writer

Colorado (11-12) at San Francisco (13-9), 4:05 p.m. EDT

Matt Cain hasn't won a game in his first four starts. If he fails to pitch better and get more run support from his teammates, he could be waiting even longer.

Cain goes for his first victory at home against the Colorado Rockies in two seasons on Saturday, when the Giants look to win their fourth straight series at AT&T Park in this NL West matchup.

Cain (0-1, 3.80 ERA) is winless this far into the season for the first time since opening 0-2 with a 5.27 ERA in his first five starts in 2008. Having one of the NL's lowest run-support averages (3.04) hasn't helped.

Although the Giants went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position and suffered their second shutout loss of the season in Sunday's 2-0 loss to St. Louis, Cain was not pointing fingers at his teammates.

"I just got into a pitch count where I never gave myself a chance to get deep into the game," Cain said after needing 98 pitches to go a season-low five innings. "There aren't many times you are going to go out there and pitch five innings and get many wins. It just doesn't work that way."

Cain was 5-1 with a 1.61 ERA in his first seven home starts against Colorado (11-12), but he is 0-3 with a 6.00 ERA in last four starts at AT&T Park in this matchup. His last victory versus the Rockies at home ended that early 2008 winless skid.

If he can match Barry Zito's effort from Friday's 5-2 series-opening victory, Cain could help San Francisco (13-9) win its third straight series.

Zito pitched eight innings of two-run ball and the Giants improved to 5-2 on their homestand.

"He's always had the stuff and he's always had the know-how," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "He's getting the ball over the plate."

Tracy hasn't been able to say that about his starters the last two games. After Greg Smith lasted just one inning in Wednesday's 12-11, 10-inning loss to Arizona, right-hander Aaron Cook was tagged for five runs in six innings Friday.

Esmil Rogers (0-0, 2.25) will try to give the Rockies' bullpen a break. He is expected to be called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs to take the place of Jorge De La Rosa, who was placed on the disabled list Tuesday with a torn flexor tendon band in his middle finger.

Since being sent down April 16, Rogers has made two solid starts for the Sky Sox. He allowed one run in five innings against Reno in his most recent start Sunday.

"My arm feels great," he told the Rockies' official website. "I have confidence in myself, and when it happens I will be ready."

Rogers, though, will be making just his second career start - the other was a 3-2 loss in San Diego on Sept. 12. He has never faced San Francisco.

Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff will likely remain in the fifth in the order Saturday after manager Bruce Bochy dropped him from the cleanup spot for the series opener.

Huff went 2 for 2 with a two-run double and two walks Friday after getting three hits in his previous 27 at-bats.

Giants infielder Pablo Sandoval extended his hitting streak to a career-best 10 games with an RBI single in the fifth. He is batting .436 during this stretch.

Rockies right-fielder Carlos Gonzalez had an RBI single Friday and is batting .345 during a seven-game hitting streak. He is 0 for 8 lifetime versus Cain.

San Francisco has won eight of 10 at home against Colorado.