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Likely without Bonds, Giants look to build on series opener

Jul 21, 2007 - 2:03 PM San Francisco (40-54) at Milwaukee (54-42) 3:55 pm EDT

MILWAUKEE (Ticker) -- With Barry Bonds likely to sit out, the San Francisco Giants look to build on their series-opening victory and wrap up a series win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday.

Bonds, who is two home runs shy of tying Hank Aaron's mark of 755 homers, will likely get the day off to rest as manager Bruce Bochy reiterated this week he will try to avoid playing the 42 year old in afternoon games that follow night games.

While Bonds rests, rookie Tim Lincecum (4-2, 4.37 ERA) will draw the start against the National League Central division leaders.

Lincecum will hope to rid himself of the bad taste left in his mouth in his only career outing against the Brewers at Miller Park, as he surrendered six runs, five hits and four walks over four innings of a 6-2 loss on June 19.

Since that start, however, the 23-year-old righthander is 2-0 with a 1.37 ERA in his last four starts. He allowed one run and two hits with five walks and eight strikeouts on Monday over 6 1/3 innings, but did not receive a decision as the Chicago Cubs scored two runs in the eighth to record a 3-2 win over the Giants.

Milwaukee will counter with Dave Bush (8-7, 4.84), who has been brilliant over the last month, even recording a win in relief in late June. Following a no-decision on June 10 that left the righthander with a 3-6 record and 5.70 ERA, he has gone 5-1 with a 2.88 ERA.

Included in that recent stretch was Monday's start in which Bush permitted three runs over six innings in a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. He is 1-1 with a 3.71 ERA in three games - including two starts - against the Giants, all of which came last season.