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Cain, Giants kick off set vs. Rockies

Jun 3, 2011 - 2:45 PM

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(Sports Network) - Matt Cain hopes for a little run support this evening when the San Francisco Giants open a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park.

The Giants have crossed the plate just once in Cain's last two starts, but it may not have even mattered, as the right-hander has allowed nine runs in those outings, spanning 12 innings. He was charged with his second straight loss on Sunday in Milwaukee, as he allowed five runs and 11 hits in six innings to fall to 3-4 on the year with a 3.88 ERA.

"Matt wasn't real sharp today," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said of his starter. "You always want to play well against teams you might see down the road. We came in here playing a really hot team. We're banged up but we're not making excuses."

Cain did not get a decision versus the Rockies back on May 6, but is 11-7 lifetime against them with a 3.25 ERA.

The Giants, though, enter tonight's matchup atop the National League West standings after taking three of four from the St. Louis Cardinals. San Francisco won Thursday's rubber match, as Aubrey Huff recorded his first career three-home run game and posted six RBI in a 12-7 win.

"It's kinda on your mind, but you don't expect it," Huff said. "They were all pretty good pitches. It's a pretty good feeling."

Freddy Sanchez added a three-run blast and drove in four for the Giants, while Andres Torres contributed three hits and drove in two as the defending champs scored in double digits for the first time since April 2.

Jonathan Sanchez (4-3) allowed four hits and three runs over 5 1/3 innings for the win. His lead-off ground-rule double kick-started an eight-run rally in the sixth and seventh innings.

Colorado, meanwhile, snapped a three-game losing streak and won for only the second time in its last nine tries on Wednesday when Ubaldo Jimenez picked up his first win of the season, tossing a four-hit shutout to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-0.

Jimenez (1-5) also had seven strikeouts in the win.

"It feels great," said Jimenez, who had 10 wins at this time last season. "It's been a long time. My fastball was great and it really moved. I've been working a lot on my mechanics."

Hoping for a similar effort tonight the Rockies will turn to 24-year-old right-hander Juan Nicasio, who will be making his second big league start. Nicasio was impressive in beating the Cardinals in his debut on Saturday, as he held them to just an unearned run and six hits in seven innings.

"I'm excited because it's my second start in the big leagues, but I'm going to just try to make my pitches. I'm not worried about what team I'm pitching against, just what I need to do," Nicasio said.

Despite fanning 63 batters in his nine minor league starts, Nicasio managed to strike out just two St. Louis batters.

"The strikeouts will come," Nicasio said. "When you don't think about striking out people, that's when you strike out more people. When I have a chance, I'll try, but I'll do the same thing as last time -- try to get people out with my fastball down in the zone. Then I'll see how the game goes."

The Giants have already won five of their eight meetings with the Rockies this season.






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