Diamondbacks 6 - 1 Giants
Final
  for this game

D'Backs eye top spot in NL West at San Francisco

Aug 2, 2011 - 3:06 PM

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(Sports Network) - First place in the National League West will be on the line this evening when the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants continue their three-game series at AT&T Park.

Arizona pulled within a game of the Giants' division lead in Monday's opener, as Willie Bloomquist's two-run single highlighted a five-run sixth inning, lifting the Diamondbacks to a 5-2 victory.

Gerardo Parra, Ryan Roberts and Miguel Montero also drove in runs during the inning to help Arizona win its third consecutive game.

Ian Kennedy (13-3) limited the Giants to two runs in eight innings to pick up another victory. He has won five consecutive starts and allowed only nine runs in 34 innings over that span.

Matt Cain (9-7) was responsible for all of Arizona's runs and took the loss, San Francisco's fourth in a row.

"I mean, they're good. We noticed that, we thought that in spring," Cain said. "I've always thought that they're going to be a group of guys that are going to always hit."

Getting to even tonight could be a tall task for the Diamondbacks, as they go up against one of the best hurlers in the game in two-time NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.

Lincecum returned from a stomach ailment to beat the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings to improve to 9-8 on the year to go along with a 2.78 ERA. It was his third win in four starts.

Lincecum is 7-2 lifetime versus the Diamondbacks with a 2.42 ERA in 15 starts.

Arizona will rely on righty Daniel Hudson, who has lost his last two starts. Hudson was beaten by San Diego on Thursday, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in six innings, dropping him to 10-7, while raising his ERA to 3.81.

Hudson lost to the Giants the last time he faced them and is 2-2 in four starts against the NL West rivals with a 3.38 ERA.

Despite losing on Monday San Francisco has had Arizona's number this season, prevailing in seven of the 10 matchups. The Giants also won last season's series with the D'Backs, 13-5.






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