Bear
07-25-2008, 10:17 PM
Friday, July 25 AT&T Park | 7:15 PM PT
Dan Haren, RHP (9-5, 2.58) Diamondbacks (50-51) @ Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (8-5, 4.10) Giants (43-58)
Scouting Report:
D-backs: Haren was spectacular in his last outing, going seven innings, allowing just four hits and two walks and no runs against the Dodgers at Chase Field in what D-backs manager Bob Melvin called a must-win game. The All-Star leads the Majors in quality starts this season with 17, including nine consecutive. Against the Giants, Haren is 4-4 with a 3.58 ERA in nine starts.
Giants: For the third time in a row, Sanchez finished his day without a quality start in his last outing, when he allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings. The lefty pitched fairly well, striking out eight batters, but he tired in the sixth and left after walking two and loading the bases. Following a stressful 26-pitch first inning, Sanchez said he lost his release point late in the game. Since reeling off six wins in sevens starts in May and June, he hasn't won a game in three weeks.
Saturday, July 26 AT&T Park | 6:05 PM PT
Brandon Webb, RHP (13-4, 3.11) Diamondbacks (50-51) @ Tim Lincecum, RHP (11-3, 2.79) Giants (43-58)
Scouting Report:
D-backs: Webb was superb in his last outing, going eight innings, allowing just one run on six hits against the Dodgers, but still he was denied his 14th win when closer Brandon Lyon allowed five runs in the top of the ninth. Webb is 11-5 with a 3.22 ERA against the Giants in 21 career starts.
Giants: Lincecum tied a season high for runs allowed (five) in his previous outing. He lasted six innings and struck out eight, but walked four in a loss. After struggling early, Lincecum zoomed through the fifth and sixth before surrendering a three-run homer in the seventh. The righty threw 121 pitches, one off his career high, and has thrown 110 or more in four of his past five starts.
Sunday, July 27 AT&T Park | 1:05 PM PT
Randy Johnson, LHP (7-7, 4.89) Diamondbacks (50-51) @ Barry Zito, LHP (5-12, 5.56) Giants (43-58)
Scouting Report:
D-backs: Johnson certainly hasn't looked like a 44-year-old on the mound in his last three starts. After going winless in his previous eight starts, Johnson regained his dominant form, winning his last three starts, allowing just five runs on 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings. The last time out, the Big Unit won career game No. 291, as he shut out the Cubs for seven innings. Against the Giants, Johnson has two no-decisions on the season, despite allowing just two earned runs.
Giants: Zito has won his last two decisions, including a three-run, six-inning effort last Tuesday against Washington. This is consistent with his pattern of strong second halves. Entering this year, Zito had gone 64-31 with a 3.36 ERA after the All-Star break. He's also 3-1 with a 3.64 ERA in his last five starts. Zito has faced the Diamondbacks three times this season, losing twice and recording a 6.32 ERA, although two of those efforts were quality starts.
This will be a tough series for the G-Men and I see them only winning 1 out of 3.:shakehead:
Dan Haren, RHP (9-5, 2.58) Diamondbacks (50-51) @ Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (8-5, 4.10) Giants (43-58)
Scouting Report:
D-backs: Haren was spectacular in his last outing, going seven innings, allowing just four hits and two walks and no runs against the Dodgers at Chase Field in what D-backs manager Bob Melvin called a must-win game. The All-Star leads the Majors in quality starts this season with 17, including nine consecutive. Against the Giants, Haren is 4-4 with a 3.58 ERA in nine starts.
Giants: For the third time in a row, Sanchez finished his day without a quality start in his last outing, when he allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings. The lefty pitched fairly well, striking out eight batters, but he tired in the sixth and left after walking two and loading the bases. Following a stressful 26-pitch first inning, Sanchez said he lost his release point late in the game. Since reeling off six wins in sevens starts in May and June, he hasn't won a game in three weeks.
Saturday, July 26 AT&T Park | 6:05 PM PT
Brandon Webb, RHP (13-4, 3.11) Diamondbacks (50-51) @ Tim Lincecum, RHP (11-3, 2.79) Giants (43-58)
Scouting Report:
D-backs: Webb was superb in his last outing, going eight innings, allowing just one run on six hits against the Dodgers, but still he was denied his 14th win when closer Brandon Lyon allowed five runs in the top of the ninth. Webb is 11-5 with a 3.22 ERA against the Giants in 21 career starts.
Giants: Lincecum tied a season high for runs allowed (five) in his previous outing. He lasted six innings and struck out eight, but walked four in a loss. After struggling early, Lincecum zoomed through the fifth and sixth before surrendering a three-run homer in the seventh. The righty threw 121 pitches, one off his career high, and has thrown 110 or more in four of his past five starts.
Sunday, July 27 AT&T Park | 1:05 PM PT
Randy Johnson, LHP (7-7, 4.89) Diamondbacks (50-51) @ Barry Zito, LHP (5-12, 5.56) Giants (43-58)
Scouting Report:
D-backs: Johnson certainly hasn't looked like a 44-year-old on the mound in his last three starts. After going winless in his previous eight starts, Johnson regained his dominant form, winning his last three starts, allowing just five runs on 10 hits in 19 1/3 innings. The last time out, the Big Unit won career game No. 291, as he shut out the Cubs for seven innings. Against the Giants, Johnson has two no-decisions on the season, despite allowing just two earned runs.
Giants: Zito has won his last two decisions, including a three-run, six-inning effort last Tuesday against Washington. This is consistent with his pattern of strong second halves. Entering this year, Zito had gone 64-31 with a 3.36 ERA after the All-Star break. He's also 3-1 with a 3.64 ERA in his last five starts. Zito has faced the Diamondbacks three times this season, losing twice and recording a 6.32 ERA, although two of those efforts were quality starts.
This will be a tough series for the G-Men and I see them only winning 1 out of 3.:shakehead: