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Hudson goes for D'Backs against champs

Apr 15, 2011 - 2:35 PM (Sports Network) - Daniel Hudson is off to a rough start for the Arizona Diamondbacks and looks to crack the win column tonight against the NL West- rival and defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the opener of a three-game series at Chase Field.

Acquired from the Chicago White Sox during the 2010 campaign, Hudson went 7-1 with 1.69 earned run average in 11 starts for the D'Backs. His promising summer hasn't led to any wins yet this season, as he sports an 0-2 mark and a 3.46 ERA in his first two trips to the hill.

Hudson, a right-hander, has lasted at least six innings in each of his starts and lasted seven frames in a 6-1 setback versus Cincinnati last Saturday. He was reached for two runs and three hits, striking out eight and walking three. Hudson's enjoyed success in his career against San Francisco, going 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in two starts with nine total strikeouts.

The Diamondbacks could use some tough pitching against a Giants squad that won 13 of the 18 meetings a year ago, including six of nine matchups in the desert. In fact, San Francisco has beaten Arizona 26 times in the past 36 encounters. Arizona dropped two of three contests versus St. Louis and suffered a 15-5 blowout loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday.

Ian Kennedy was banged around for nine runs and seven hits in just three innings to absorb the loss, while Aaron Heilman did no better in relief and yielded six runs and an additional seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

"I was off with pretty much everything," Kennedy said. "My command. My curveball was getting over, nothing else we getting over. Really just battling myself. Pretty bad."

Russell Branyan homered in defeat, while Chris Young, Miguel Montero and Melvin Mora drove in a run apiece for Arizona, which is 3-3 on a nine-game homestand.

San Francisco will begin a six-game trek tonight against the Diamondbacks and Rockies, and won the last two meetings of a three-game series versus the rival Los Angeles Dodgers by the Bay.

In Wednesday's 4-3 win in the series finale, Pablo Sandoval and Mike Fontenot both homered in the sixth inning to put the Giants ahead for good. Aubrey Huff went 2-for-3 with an RBI for the Giants, who evened their record at 6-6 and have won five of the past seven games.

"I didn't have [a home run] as a Giant last year and I'm glad to get one," Fontenot said of his go-ahead shot in the bottom of the frame.

Giants lefty Jonathan Sanchez lasted six innings and gave up three runs on seven hits and two walks to get the win. The left-hander also struck out nine to even his 2011 mark at 1-1. In injury news for the Giants, second baseman Freddy Sanchez (shoulder) is probable for Friday and center fielder Andres Torres (Achilles) is listed as doubtful.

Matt Cain is slated to take the mound for the Giants tonight and owns a 1-0 mark with a 1.38 earned run average in two starts. Cain threw six shutout innings in a win at Los Angeles on April 2 and did not factor in the outcome of a 3-2 victory versus St. Louis last Saturday. The righty allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, and struck out four batters with two walks.

Cain will make his 18th career start against Arizona and is 6-4 with a 3.28 ERA through the first 17 appearances. He went 2-0 in three starts against the Diamondbacks a season ago.