Giants 6 - 4 Diamondbacks
Final
  for this game

Giants' Cain tries for first win at Arizona

Apr 29, 2013 - 2:53 PM

Video

(Sports Network) - Matt Cain takes another crack at win No. 1 on Monday when the San Francisco Giants open a three-game set against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field.

Cain is in the midst of his worst season-opening stretch in five years and enters this contest 0-2 with a 6.59 ERA. Since pitching six scoreless innings in his first start of the season against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Cain is 0-2 with an ERA of 8.34.

He didn't get a decision on Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, as he allowed four runs (3 earned) and five hits in six innings of a 6-4 loss.

"I'm putting the guys in a hole," Cain said.

Cain is 13-6 lifetime versus the Diamondbacks with a 3.38 ERA in 28 starts. He's won nine of his last 11 decisions against them, though, pitching to a 2.95 ERA in those 14 starts.

San Francisco could use a boost from its ace after getting swept by the San Diego Padres over the weekend, culminating with a 6-4 loss on Sunday. Buster Posey had a two-run homer for the Giants and Pablo Sandoval finished 4-for-5 with an RBI single in the loss, the fifth in a row for the Giants.

The Giants haven't lost six in a row since suffering seven straight defeats from June 26-July 2, 2010.

"When you look at the past five games, it could have easily gone our way in all of them," Posey said. "We're playing some tight games and just have to keep on grinding."

Ryan Vogelsong (1-2) served up all three San Diego homers and allowed six runs -- five earned -- over a shaky five innings of work.

Arizona, meanwhile, took three of four from Colorado over the weekend. On Sunday, J.J. Putz worked out of a jam in the ninth and the Diamondbacks held on for a 4-2 victory.

The Rockies had runners on second and third with two out for pinch-hitter Carlos Gonzalez, but Putz struck him out to notch his fifth save and secure Arizona's sixth win in eight contests.

Patrick Corbin (3-0) worked out of trouble most of the game, giving up nine hits over 6 2/3 frames. However, Colorado was just 2-for-9 with runners in scoring position and managed just two runs.

"He didn't walk anybody. He just keeps the ball in play," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said of Corbin. "We made some good plays behind him today. We took care of the ball really good."

Opposing Cain in Monday's opener will be Arizona ace Ian Kennedy, who is also off to a shaky start this season at 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA. However, he's 0-2 with a 5.32 ERA in his last four starts.

Kennedy was sharp on Wednesday against the Giants, though, as he held them to a run and four hits in six innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 3-2 win.

Kennedy has faced the Giants 14 times and is 6-2 against them with a 2.33 ERA.

Arizona took two of three from the Giants earlier in the season.






Related News