The San Francisco Giants hope to keep their dwindling
postseason chances alive tonight, when they resume a three-game series versus
the National League West-rival Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park.
The Giants are five games behind Colorado for the NL Wild Card lead with five
left to play and are coming off Tuesday's 8-4 victory over the D-Backs. Bengie
Molina went 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI, while Pablo
Sandoval also added four hits -- including a homer -- with four runs scored
and a pair of RBI in the win.
Jonathan Sanchez got the win and yielded three runs in 5 2/3 frames.
"Our priority right now is to try to finish up on a good note, and I think
that sends a great message for next year and also it shows the character of
our ball club if you're not in it and we're still breathing," said Giants
manager Bruce Bochy. "There's a little hope, not a lot but a little hope, but
you still have to go out and play the game and those guys did a great job
tonight."
Brad Penny gets the nod for Bochy's club tonight and he is 3-1 with a 3.31 ERA
in five starts with the Giants. He threw eight innings of one-run ball in a
no-decision his last time out on September 24 versus the Chicago Cubs.
The bulky right-hander is 8-3 with a 2.13 ERA in 16 career starts against
Arizona.
Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks will try again to spoil San Francisco's playoff
hopes. Miguel Montero belted a pair of home runs and Justin Upton went deep
last night for Arizona, which saw its brief two-game win streak halted.
"It was the long ball tonight," said Montero. "I mean, it was like a home run
derby it looked like and it was a long game. It was miserable because it was
too long and it looked like the ball was flying today."
D-Backs starter Doug Davis suffered the loss and was charged with four runs on
seven hits and five walks through four frames.
Kevin Mulvey gets the nod tonight for Arizona and is 0-2 with a 7.41 ERA in
five games (3 starts) with the D-Backs. Mulvey last pitched in a 5-2 loss
versus the Giants on September 23 and allowed three runs in six innings to
take the loss.
Mulvey, a right-hander, was making his first appearance against the Giants.
San Francisco is 11-5 against Arizona this season, with a 5-2 mark by the Bay.
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