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Ortiz faces former team as Giants meet Diamondbacks

Apr 20, 2007 - 3:20 PM Arizona (10-7) at San Francisco (6-8) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Russ Ortiz faces his former team when he takes the mound for the San Francisco Giants against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday.

Prior to the 2005 season, Ortiz inked a four-year, $33 million contract with the Diamondbacks. But he was a complete bust in the desert, posting just a 5-16 record before being designated for assignment last June.

When they designated Ortiz, the Diamondbacks were responsible for $22.5 million remaining on his contract.

After leaving Arizona, Ortiz went 0-3 with an abysmal 8.48 ERA for Baltimore last season. He signed with the Giants, the team he started his career with in 1998, in the offseason.

Ortiz (1-1, 5.27 ERA), who had gone 0-12 in 31 outings since August 29, 2005, finally returned to the win column last Friday. The righthander gave up five runs and 10 hits over 8 2/3 innings in an 8-5 triumph at Pittsburgh.

Since a 1-6 start, the Giants have won five of their last seven games. Rich Aurilia delivered a two-run double in Thursday's 6-2 win over St. Louis.

Aurilia sports a .352 batting average and has hit safely in 12 straight games.

Giants slugger Barry Bonds, who hit his 738th career homer in Wednesday's night game, sat out Thursday's day contest. He is expected to return to the lineup.

Doug Davis (1-1, 3.38) takes the hill for the Diamondbacks, who have dropped three of their last four games. He picked up his first win of the season against Colorado in last outing despite surrendering four runs and nine hits with four walks over five innings.

Davis is 2-2 with a 4.89 ERA in seven career appearances - six starts - against the Giants. Bonds is 3-for-7 with a homer, two doubles and four walks against him.

San Francisco went 11-8 against Arizona last season.