The Giants really need to turn things around if they're to survive in the NL West. That's an odd sentence to write, considering just how bad some of the teams are in the division, but the Arizona Diamondbacks have taken possession of first place, and they're not likely to let it go easily. Starting with the Florida Marlins would be great (they were supposed to start with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but lost two-of-three for their troubles), but they'd probably just like to get out of the series better off than they did earlier this year, when they lost Buster Posey in a plate collision. Sorry, had you forgotten about that? Of course you haven't.
Either way, Matt Cain will be taking the hill, and he'll be looking to turn his luck around as well. He's lost his last two-straight, and four of his last five. His last outing was a good one, but he still was given the loss, despite only one earned run off of three hits and two walks over eight innings of work. The Giants lost that game (to the Phillies) 2-1.
Cain is 9-8 with a 3.00 earned run average in 24 starts this year. He's 3-1 against the Marlins overall, with his lone loss coming earlier this year, on May 24th. Cain gave up four runs by the fourth inning and was taken out of the game.
He was defeated by Ricky Nolasco, and they'll match up again this afternoon. Nolasco had went 8 1/3 innings in the game, giving up just one run, and improving his record to 3-2 against San Francisco, with a stellar 1.72 ERA.
Nolasco is 8-8 with a 3.86 ERA on the year, and was a tough-luck loser in his last outing, against the St. Louis Cardinals. He went seven innings and gave up a two-run homer to Albert Pujols in the first inning, and it would be his undoing. They'd go on to lose that game 2-1, stopping him short of winning three straight.
Scott Cousins, the player who collided with Posey to put him out for the season, will not be playing tonight as he's on the 60-day disabled list. Carlos Beltran will miss another game for the Giants, as he's got a sprained right wrist. The team was hoping he'd be able to play today.
San Francisco Giants Lineup
1. Andres Torres CF
2. Jeff Keppinger 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval 3B
4. Aubrey Huff 1B
5. Cody Ross RF
6. Orlando Cabrera SS
7. Aaron Rowand LF
8. Eli Whiteside C
9. Matt Cain P
Florida Marlins Lineup
1. Emilio Bonifacio SS
2. Alfredo Amezaga 2B
3. Logan Morrison LF
4. Mike Stanton RF
5. Greg Dobbs 3B
6. Gaby Sanchez 1B
7. Bryan Petersen CF
8. John Buck C
9. Ricky Nolasco P