This is looking to be a productive series by the San Francisco Giants. The past few weeks have been a roller coaster for the NL West, with the Giants and Padres exchanging half-game leads while the Colorado Rockies steadily bolstered their own position with win after win, but things seem to be leveling out for the resurgent team, losing five straight, including one at the hands of the Giants. Boosting themselves while nullifying the Rockies chances? Sounds like a productive win for the Giants on Friday.
On Saturday, they'll look to continue the trend and they'll be depending on Barry Zito to do that. It's a statement which inspires little confidence for the team at this point, what with his recent seven game losing skid. Fortunately, Zito picked up a win in his last outing, allowing only two runs on three hits over six innings against the Brewers last Sunday.
In 14 lifetime games against the Rockies, Zito is 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA, and a 2-1 record with 3.52 ERA in six starts at Coors Field in Colorado. His last outing there wasn't great, however, being taken for six runs on eight hits in 5 1/3 innings last July, though he received a no-decision in that game.
Colorado counters with a pitcher looking to get back into good graces as well, in Jason Hammel. Hammel is 7-2 in fifteen home starts with a 3.90 ERA, but over his last two home stands, he's given up nine runs and eighteen hits in 11 innings total.
The Giants batters have to like those numbers, Juan Uribe, Pat Burrell and Buster Posey will have theirs eyes set on making some big plays to completely take the trending downward Rockies out of the race.