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Giants' Sanchez looks for continued success

May 6, 2008 - 12:55 PM San Francisco (14-18) at Pittsburgh (12-19) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - If the San Francisco Giants were going to mount much of a charge this season, many expected a lefthander to lead the way. The only thing is, that pitcher hasn't been Barry Zito, but Jonathan Sanchez.

Sanchez eyes his third straight winning decision on Tuesday when the Giants kick off a three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

While Zito has floundered and been jettisoned to the bullpen after a 0-6 start - less than two years after signing a seven-year, $126 million deal - Sanchez (2-1, 3.48 ERA) has flourished.

Not only is San Francisco 5-1 this season when he starts, but he finds himself in a tie for ninth place with St. Louis' Todd Wellemeyer in the majors with 40 strikeouts.

The lefthander will be looking to claim his third straight win after recording a no-decision on Wednesday in a 3-2 win over Colorado. He allowed two runs and five hits over 5 2/3 innings in the outing.

He will be opposed by Zach Duke (0-2, 4.79), who has dropped his last two decisions. He has had little success in his three career starts against the Giants, going 0-1 with a 6.28 ERA.

Despite picking up his fourth no-decision of the season, the lefthander fared well in his last start, yielding two runs and five hits over seven frames in Pittsburgh's 3-2 loss at Washington on Thursday.