Giants 5 - 6 Diamondbacks
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Giants take aim at fifth straight win in the desert

Apr 17, 2011 - 2:47 PM

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(Sports Network) - Madison Bumgarner tries to pitch the San Francisco Giants to their fifth straight win and a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks this afternoon when the National League West foes close their set from Chase Field.

The Giants won for the seventh time in nine tries on Saturday, as Freddy Sanchez had two hits and knocked in three runs to help San Francisco to a 5-3 victory.

Buster Posey belted a two-run homer while Aaron Rowand went 3-for-4 for the Giants, who overcame hitting into double plays in five straight innings.

However, all the news wasn't great, as starting pitcher Barry Zito left in the second inning with a right mid- foot sprain. He went to field a Joe Saunders bunt and appeared to have landed oddly and rolled his ankle. He went just 1 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Guillermo Mota (1-0) relieved Zito and went 4 1/3 innings, surrendering one run on three hits while striking out four.

Miguel Montero plated two runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three straight.

Saunders (0-2) was roughed up for 12 hits and five runs in 6 2/3 innings.

With another win today the Giants will tie their longest winning streak from last season. San Francisco's five-game run from July 10-17 a year ago matched a major league record as the shortest regular-season winning streak by a World Series champion.

If that is to happen, though, second-year left-hander Madison Bumgarner will need to be better than he has been though his first two starts. After losing to San Diego in his season debut, Bumgarner was defeated by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, as he surrendered five runs and eight hits in five innings.

Bumgarner, who is 2-0 in four games (three starts) with a 1.29 ERA against the D'Backs, has allowed eight runs in eight innings pitched this season and has also walked seven batters.

Arizona, meanwhile, will rely on right-hander Barry Enright, who is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA. Enright was charged with the loss on Monday against St. Louis, as he allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings.

Enright has faced the Giants four times and is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA against them.

San Francisco won 13 of its 18 matchups with the D'Backs last season and is 28-10 in the series since the start of the 2009 campaign.






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