National League Preview from The Sports Network
Tuesday, September 4th
(All times eastern)
Arizona Diamondbacks (66-70) at San Francisco Giants (77-58), 10:15 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Arizona - Ian Kennedy (12-11, 4.27)
San Francisco - Ryan Vogelsong (12-7, 3.02)
(Sports Network) - It's been over a month since the San Francisco Giants lost
a series. They will try to keep that impressive ride going with a win Tuesday
versus the Arizona Diamondbacks in the middle portion of a three-game set.
The Giants rallied for a 9-8 victory over the Diamondbacks thanks to Marco
Scutaro's RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning. Scutaro plated Brandon
Crawford with the game-winning run before his teammates mobbed him on the
field in celebration.
"He's one of those guys that comes to play every day," Giants manager Bruce
Bochy said of Scutaro. "He knows how to play the game and I think he's made
players around him better."
Scutaro, Crawford and Pablo Sandoval all had three hits, while Buster Posey
and Hunter Pence ended with two RBI apiece for the NL West-leading Giants, who
are 4 1/2 games ahead of Los Angeles for the division lead and have won 11 of
their last 14 games. San Francisco hasn't lost a series since dropping three
of four to the New York Mets from July 30-Aug. 2.
Ryan Vogelsong can pitch San Francisco to another series triumph when he takes
the mound for his 26th start tonight. Vogelsong has won two in a row and four
of six starts, including Thursday's 8-4 win at Houston in which he gave up
four runs and seven hits in six innings.
Vogelsong has given up three runs in each of his past four starts (18 total)
and is 12-7 with a 3.02 earned run average this season. The right-hander did
not record a decision against the Diamondbacks back in late May and is 2-2
with a 2.35 ERA in 11 games (5 starts) against them in his career.
Arizona has lost three in a row and nine of 11 games, and suffered its third
straight road loss last night. J.J. Putz blew his fifth save on Posey's RBI
double in the bottom of the ninth and Bryan Shaw was dealt the loss following
Scutaro's base hit down the third base line.
"We didn't do our job today," said reliever David Hernandez, who allowed two
runs. "Over the course of the year, it's going to happen. Unfortunately all
three of us didn't come through. At the end of the day, I'll take our chances
with us three in the game against anybody, but it is what it is."
The Diamondbacks are 2-3 on a 10-game road trip and are 7 1/2 games out of the
Wild Card race in the National League.
Ian Kennedy draws the start for Kirk Gibson's club tonight and is coming off 6
1/3 scoreless innings of a 2-0 win at Los Angeles on Thursday. Kennedy had
lost three of four starts, but is now 6-3 in the past nine decisions.
The right-hander is 12-11 in 27 appearances with a 4.27 ERA and has won both
of his starts against San Francisco this season. Kennedy has won five straight
starts against the Giants. In 12 career starts in the series, Kennedy is 6-2
with a 2.01 ERA.
Arizona and San Francisco have split 10 matchups this season.
09/04 10:32:36 ET

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