• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Cubs hope to keep division lead against streaking Giants

Aug 21, 2007 - 2:48 PM Chicago Cubs (63-60) at San Francisco (55-70) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - After falling back into a first-place tie in their division, the Chicago Cubs hope to regain sole possession of the division lead when they head to AT&T Park to meet the streaking San Francisco Giants.

The Cubs, who briefly enjoyed a one-game lead in the National League Central over Milwaukee (64-61), are coming off a loss in the final game of their abbreviated four-game set with St. Louis Cardinals.

Meanwhile, the Giants enter this series on a six-game roll - their longest winning streak since an eight-game stretch from April 18-26.

Jason Marquis (10-7, 4.25 ERA) will seek his third straight win in as many tries. In Thursday's 12-4 win over Cincinnati, he permitted four runs and seven hits over six frames to win for the third time in four outings.

The righthander is unbeaten in three starts and one relief appearance against San Francisco, going 3-0 with a 2.38 ERA.

His hands will be full though as he faces hard-throwing rookie Tim Lincecum (7-3, 3.95), who has won five of his last six decisions. The last win came in Thursday's 9-3 win at Atlanta in which he yielded three runs and five hits over five innings.

In his only other career start against the Cubs on July 16, the righthander allowed one run and two hits over 6 1/3 innings - striking out eight - but he did not receive a decision after the bullpen could not hold a late one-run lead.