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Lincecum, Giants Entertain Padres On Fourth Of July
Interleague play is done, and now it's back to normal in the majors as MLB heads towards the All-Star break. Among the full slate of contests to begin the season's 14th week is an NL West battle in San Francisco between the defending champion Giants and San Diego Padres.
The Fourth of July clash begins at 2:05 p.m. (PT) from AT&T Park with an initial mound matchup of Padres lefty Clayton Richard (5-12, 4.09) against the Giants' Tim Lincecum (10-7, 3.04).
San Diego and San Francisco took the NL West race down to the final day of the 2010 season before the Giants grabbed the honors. The Padres were the surprise club of the division and the NL last year, but find themselves in a scrap with the Dodgers for the division basement this time around. San Fran's biggest challenger currently is Arizona, with the Diamondbacks among the top surprises in the big leagues this campaign.
It's just the second get-together for the two clubs this season, the first a quick 2-game set in San Diego back in early April. The teams split that series, a moral victory for the Giants who dropped 12 of 18 meetings with the Padres in 2010. San Diego won seven of the nine played at AT&T Park, the 'under' also going 7-2.
Richard is white-hot by his 2011 standards, winning his last two assignments after the Padres lost 12 of his first 15 trips to the bump. San Diego's weak offense gets part if not more of the blame. During a 6-start stretch from May 21 to June 17, all Padres losses, the lineup plated just 10 runs in Richard's efforts, half of those coming in one game.
This will be the first start against San Francisco this season for the former Michigan star. Richard faced the Giants five times a year ago, the Padres winning all five of his starts and the southpaw posting a fine 2.55 ERA in the outings. He was 3-0 in three tries at AT&T Park with a 3.43 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, but will be facing a Giants lineup that is a money-making 16-5 vs. lefties this year.
Lincecum is hoping July is kinder than June proved to be, the 2-time Cy Young winner going 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA in six starts last month. 'The Freak' will be making his second start of '11 vs. San Diego and was dominant in the first outing at Petco Park on April 6, working seven innings and allowing just three hits and a run while striking out 13.
San Francisco has won 10 of Lincecum's 14 career starts vs. the Padres, the right-hander fashioning an excellent 2.02 ERA over 93 1/3 frames.
The Giants have a long list of walking wounded heading into the second half of the season. They are close to the return of rookie first baseman Brandon Belt (wrist) and shortstop Mike Fontenot (groin), but are in wait-&-see mode for second baseman Freddy Sanchez (shoulder), the versatile Mark DeRosa (wrist) and left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (biceps).
Catcher Buster Posey was lost for the remainder of the season with a broken left leg in late-May.
San Diego is currently without starting pitcher Aaron Harang (foot) and first baseman Brad Hawpe (finger). Both are expected back after the midseason break.
Sunny skies and mild temps are in the forecast for Monday and the remainder of the 4-game series that continues Tuesday with Tim Stauffer in line for the Padres and Matt Cain the scheduled hurler for the Giants.
Interleague play is done, and now it's back to normal in the majors as MLB heads towards the All-Star break. Among the full slate of contests to begin the season's 14th week is an NL West battle in San Francisco between the defending champion Giants and San Diego Padres.
The Fourth of July clash begins at 2:05 p.m. (PT) from AT&T Park with an initial mound matchup of Padres lefty Clayton Richard (5-12, 4.09) against the Giants' Tim Lincecum (10-7, 3.04).
San Diego and San Francisco took the NL West race down to the final day of the 2010 season before the Giants grabbed the honors. The Padres were the surprise club of the division and the NL last year, but find themselves in a scrap with the Dodgers for the division basement this time around. San Fran's biggest challenger currently is Arizona, with the Diamondbacks among the top surprises in the big leagues this campaign.
It's just the second get-together for the two clubs this season, the first a quick 2-game set in San Diego back in early April. The teams split that series, a moral victory for the Giants who dropped 12 of 18 meetings with the Padres in 2010. San Diego won seven of the nine played at AT&T Park, the 'under' also going 7-2.
Richard is white-hot by his 2011 standards, winning his last two assignments after the Padres lost 12 of his first 15 trips to the bump. San Diego's weak offense gets part if not more of the blame. During a 6-start stretch from May 21 to June 17, all Padres losses, the lineup plated just 10 runs in Richard's efforts, half of those coming in one game.
This will be the first start against San Francisco this season for the former Michigan star. Richard faced the Giants five times a year ago, the Padres winning all five of his starts and the southpaw posting a fine 2.55 ERA in the outings. He was 3-0 in three tries at AT&T Park with a 3.43 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, but will be facing a Giants lineup that is a money-making 16-5 vs. lefties this year.
Lincecum is hoping July is kinder than June proved to be, the 2-time Cy Young winner going 1-2 with a 4.84 ERA in six starts last month. 'The Freak' will be making his second start of '11 vs. San Diego and was dominant in the first outing at Petco Park on April 6, working seven innings and allowing just three hits and a run while striking out 13.
San Francisco has won 10 of Lincecum's 14 career starts vs. the Padres, the right-hander fashioning an excellent 2.02 ERA over 93 1/3 frames.
The Giants have a long list of walking wounded heading into the second half of the season. They are close to the return of rookie first baseman Brandon Belt (wrist) and shortstop Mike Fontenot (groin), but are in wait-&-see mode for second baseman Freddy Sanchez (shoulder), the versatile Mark DeRosa (wrist) and left-hander Jonathan Sanchez (biceps).
Catcher Buster Posey was lost for the remainder of the season with a broken left leg in late-May.
San Diego is currently without starting pitcher Aaron Harang (foot) and first baseman Brad Hawpe (finger). Both are expected back after the midseason break.
Sunny skies and mild temps are in the forecast for Monday and the remainder of the 4-game series that continues Tuesday with Tim Stauffer in line for the Padres and Matt Cain the scheduled hurler for the Giants.
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