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Giants-Pirates Preview

Jun 3, 2010 - 9:08 PM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

San Francisco (28-24) at Pittsburgh (22-31), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Offensive production from Aaron Rowand and Bengie Molina has proved to be critical to San Francisco's chances of winning. Unfortunately for the Giants, the two players haven't had much success lately.

After driving in key runs in a victory, Rowand and Molina look to keep contributing Friday night against a Pittsburgh Pirates team each dominated earlier in the year.

San Francisco (28-24) beat Colorado 4-1 on Wednesday to avoid a three-game sweep. The Giants totaled one run in the first two games before Rowand hit a go-ahead, two-run double in the fifth inning of the finale. Molina added an RBI single an inning later to help San Francisco conclude a 6-3 homestand.

It was an encouraging - and badly needed - performance from the two veterans.

Rowand, dropped from the leadoff spot May 23, came in having gone 4 for 37 with two RBIs in his previous nine contests, while Molina was 3 for 44 with two RBIs in his last 13.

The Giants are 9-0 when Molina drives in a run and 11-2 when Rowand has at least one RBI.

"We want to help the team, man," said Molina, who ended an 0-for-21 funk. "We're not trying to hurt the team. You can only take so much, your heart can only take so much. ... A lot of times when we hit, we feel like they have 24 guys on defense and we can't find a hole."

Molina and Rowand had no trouble getting on base against Pittsburgh from April 12-14.

Molina was 6 for 7 with a homer, two doubles and four RBIs, while Rowand hit .385 with a home run, two doubles and two RBIs as the Giants took two of three. San Francisco has won six of seven against Pittsburgh, with Molina batting .591 (13 for 22) in the last six.

The Pirates (22-31) should be well rested after two days off. Their series finale against the Chicago Cubs was rained out Wednesday and will be made up Monday afternoon.

Pittsburgh defeated Chicago 3-2 on Tuesday, as Neil Walker hit a two-run homer in the eighth to help the Pirates improve to 7-1 against the Cubs since May 4. Pittsburgh has gone 5-15 against other opponents in that span.

The Pirates' offensive struggles continued despite the win.

Pittsburgh, last in the majors with 171 runs, has scored three runs or fewer in eight straight games and 15 of 17.

San Francisco's Jonathan Sanchez (3-4, 2.90 ERA) has shut down Pittsburgh once this season, allowing three hits with a career high-tying 11 strikeouts in eight innings of a 6-0 win April 14.

Sanchez allowed one run, two hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in five innings to beat Arizona 12-1 on Saturday. The victory was his first since April 26.

The left-hander had pitched well in his next five starts, recording a 3.86 ERA, but received five total runs of support before Saturday.

Pittsburgh counters with Zach Duke (3-5, 5.09), who has one win in nine starts.

Duke gave up seven runs and a season-worst 12 hits over 5 1-3 innings of 7-3 loss at Atlanta last Friday. He allowed two runs in 13 innings over his previous two outings.

The left-hander went 1-2 with a 7.71 ERA in his last three starts against the Giants at PNC Park.