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Dodgers-Giants Preview

Jun 29, 2010 - 6:48 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Los Angeles (41-35) at San Francisco (40-35), 10:15 p.m. EDT

After overpowering one opponent after another for more than a month, Matt Cain was thoroughly knocked around in his last outing.

A start against the Dodgers might not be what he needs to bounce back.

Cain, winless in his career against Los Angeles, hopes to help the struggling Giants avoid losing their fourth in a row when he takes the mound Tuesday night against San Francisco's biggest rivals.

Heading into Thursday's game in Houston, Cain's 2.16 ERA ranked fourth-best in the majors, thanks to a seven-start span from May 17-June 19 during which he allowed seven earned runs. That impressive stretch came to an abrupt end, as Cain (6-6, 2.72 ERA) was tagged for a season-worst seven runs and nine hits in a season-low 2 2-3 innings in a 7-5 loss.

"You don't sit there and wait for a bad day to come," Cain told the Giants' official website. "You keep going out there like you're going to pitch well."

The right-hander hopes to bounce back at AT&T Park, where he's posted a 0.75 ERA in winning his last three, but one of his least favorite opponents is waiting.

Cain is 0-7 with a 4.13 ERA in 13 starts against Los Angeles. It's the only NL team other than San Francisco, the only club he's played for, and Philadelphia, which he's faced four times, he hasn't defeated.

Cain can't be blamed entirely for his winless record, though. In 10 starts against the Dodgers since 2007, he has been backed by nine total runs with five of those coming in two games.

The Giants (40-35) are currently experiencing similar offensive problems, plating five runs during their three-game skid.

San Francisco had plenty of chances in Monday's 4-2 loss to the Dodgers, but hit into five double plays. The Giants, losers of five of six, have grounded into an NL-worst 81 double plays.

"We're finding ways to get into them," manager Bruce Bochy said. "We've put guys in motion and we're missing the pitch. Those hurt, they stop rallies."

The Dodgers (41-35) picked up an important win in their first game of the season in AT&T Park, moving one-half game ahead of San Francisco and within four of NL West-leading San Diego.

Casey Blake hit a go-ahead two-run homer in the eighth inning for Los Angeles, which won without center fielder Matt Kemp in the starting lineup and without the services of closer Jonathan Broxton, who is scheduled to have another day off after throwing 48 pitches Sunday.

Kemp was out for a second straight day, and manager Joe Torre said he's going to play whoever is the most productive. Kemp is batting .161 with a homer in his last 18 games.

"We're trying to get on a little bit of a run," Torre said. "We're trying to build on something right now."

The Dodgers try to win back-to-back games for only the second time since June 11 behind rookie John Ely (3-5, 3.86), who has also been hurt by poor run support.

Ely has received two runs or fewer of support in five of his last six starts leaving him without a victory. In Wednesday's 2-1 loss to the Angels, the right-hander allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings. It was the seventh time in 10 starts he yielded two runs or fewer.

This will be his first appearance against the Giants.