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Penny hopes to extend success into second half

Jul 14, 2007 - 1:38 PM LA Dodgers (50-40) at San Francisco (38-49) 3:55 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- Brad Penny will look to carry over from his excellent first half when the Los Angeles Dodgers face the San Francisco Giants in the second of a three-game series Saturday.

Penny (10-1, 2.39 ERA), a top candidate for the National League Cy Young Award, has not absorbed a loss in his last nine starts, yielding more than two runs just twice in that span.

One of those times was in his last start, as Penny did not receive a decision after giving up six runs and nine hits with four walks in four innings in an 8-6 loss to the Atlanta Braves on July 5.

The 29-year-old righthander is hoping to avoid a second half like the one he suffered through last season. At this point last year, Penny had posted a 10-2 record with a 2.91 ERA before finishing 16-9 with a 4.33 ERA.

Penny will be given the task of shutting down Barry Bonds, if he plays. The Giants slugger has a tendancy to sit out day games that follow night contests.

Bonds, who is four home runs shy of tying Hank Aaron's all-time mark, is batting .295 with 17 homers and 42 RBI this season.

The seven-time MVP went 0-for-2 with two walks during San Francisco's 9-1 loss on Friday. Los Angeles starter Chad Billingsley threw six scoreless innings.

The Giants will send Matt Morris (7-5, 3.55) to the mound. The 32-year-old righthander is winless in his last four starts.

Morris pitched six innings, allowing six runs and seven hits in a 6-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on July 5.