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Giants-Rockies Preview

Jul 2, 2010 - 5:43 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

San Francisco (40-37) at Colorado (41-37), 8:10 p.m. EDT

San Francisco has the right man on the mound to help snap its longest losing stretch of the season.

Ace Tim Lincecum looks to bounce back from his shortest outing of the season as the Giants try to avoid a seventh consecutive loss Friday night against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

After dropping five straight to conclude a 1-5 homestand, San Francisco (40-38) opened its season-high 11-game trip with a 7-3 defeat at Colorado on Thursday. The Giants are 8-18 against NL West opponents.

"Sure it is (disappointing)," manager Bruce Bochy told the Giants' official website

The Giants hope Lincecum (8-3, 3.13 ERA) can help prevent the club from losing seven in a row for the first time since an eight-game skid June 13-22, 2007. The Giants are 8-2 in games Lincecum pitches following a loss.

However, the right-hander gave up four runs, five hits and walked three in three innings of a 5-1 loss to Boston on Sunday.

"Things just weren't coming out like I wanted them to," Lincecum said. "I've gotten a little better at not necessarily accepting it but understanding these types of outings.

"I'm trying to take something out of every game."

Lincecum is 5-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 12 starts versus Colorado, but allowed four runs and walked five in 5 2-3 innings of a 4-0 loss May 31.

He'll face a Colorado team that has won three of four. Carlos Gonzalez hit a two-run homer and Dexter Fowler added three hits Thursday for the Rockies (42-37).

"We're in a good position right now to get hot," winning pitcher Aaron Cook said.

Gonzalez, who matched a career high with his 13th home run, has homered three times in his last four games. However, he's 2 for 10 against Lincecum.

Colorado rookie Jhoulys Chacin (4-7, 3.51) takes the mound looking for another strong outing against the Giants.

Though Chacin has lost five of six starts, one of his better efforts came May 2, when he allowed one hit and struck out seven in seven scoreless innings of a 4-1 victory at San Francisco.

"He was really working the outside corner, nibbling off the plate away," San Francisco's Aubrey Huff said after that contest. "He wouldn't give in."

The right-hander allowed five runs - two earned - and struck out a season-high 12 in six innings of a 10-3 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday. He is 1-2 with a 2.04 ERA since June 16.

San Francisco's rookie catcher Buster Posey has not faced Chacin, but he is 5 for 14 this season against Colorado.

Posey hit his second homer Thursday and should continue to see more playing time after the Giants traded veteran catcher Bengie Molina to Texas for reliever Chris Ray earlier in the day.

"You have to play to show what you can do. You don't know unless you play," said Posey, batting .297 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 28 games since being called up from the minors. "I'm going to get more of an opportunity now."