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Giants host Cardinals seeking fourth straight win

Apr 11, 2008 - 2:31 PM St Louis (7-3) at San Francisco (4-6) 10:15 pm EDT

SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) - The San Francisco Giants may have gotten off to a rocky start, but they are quickly turning things around.

The Giants go for their fourth straight win on Friday when they continue a four-game series with the St. Louis Cardinals.

After losing six of their first seven games, San Francisco completed a three-game win streak with a 5-1 victory over the Cardinals on Thursday.

Fred Lewis finished the game with two hits and scored a pair of runs as five players each drove in one run for the Giants.

Despite posting just a .176 batting average entering Thursday's game, manager Bruce Bochy has supreme confidence in Lewis, who will likely start in left field while Dave Roberts spends time on the disabled list with inflammation in his left knee.

Now that the Giants have put their dismal start behind them, Barry Zito (0-2, 6.30 ERA) tries to follow suit when he takes the mound on Friday.

The 29-year-old lefthander surrendered five runs - three earned - and eight hits in five innings en route to a 7-0 loss against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Zito's first start of the season was nearly as bad on Opening Day as he allowed four runs in five innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Righthander Kyle Lohse (1-0, 0.00), who signed with the Cardinals after spending last season between the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies, hasn't allowed a run in 12 innings over his first two starts.