(Sports Network) - Matt Cain tries to get the San Francisco Giants one step
closer to a National League West crown when they continue a four-game series
with the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park.
That probably won't be a problem, as Cain is 6-1 with a 3.00 ERA in his last
nine starts versus the Rockies. He's been even better against them at home in
that stretch, posting a 4-0 mark to go along with a 1.69 ERA. He is 14-7
lifetime against the Rockies with a 2.93 ERA.
Cain matched his career-best in wins on Friday in Arizona, as he improved to
14-5, holding the D-Backs to a run and four hits in five innings. He also
walked five batters and saw his ERA drop to 2.93.
"That was a gutsy effort," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It just got to a point
where I had to go get him."
San Francisco's magic number was trimmed to seven on Tuesday, as Xavier Nady
produced two RBI singles and Tim Lincecum pitched masterfully in San
Francisco's 6-3 win.
It appears Lincecum (10-14) has been saving his best for the home stretch. The
right-hander struck out six and did not allow a run in 6 1/3 innings. He has
given up just 11 earned runs over his last six starts.
"I feel like I'm getting back to (where I was) but there's that fine point
where you feel like you're going out there and everything is just kind of
working by itself," said Lincecum. "I haven't reached that point yet. I still
feel like I'm grinding a little but those harder situations are getting easier
to get out of."
Marco Scutaro added three hits, scored twice and drove in a run as the Giants
moved 8 1/2 games up on the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they try to nab their
second division crown in three years.
The Giants touched up Jeff Francis (5-6) early and chased him from the game
after five innings. He allowed two runs on six hits and lost for the second
time in as many starts.
Wilin Rosario hit a two-run homer in the top of the eighth for the Rockies,
who have lost 11 of 13 overall and 12 of 16 to the Giants this season.
Hoping to reverse that trend on Wednesday will be righty Tyler Chatwood, who
is 4-4 with a 5.65 ERA. Chatwood did not get a decision on Friday in San
Diego, as he allowed four runs and five hits in 3 2/3 innings of a 7-4 win.
Chatwood tossed five scoreless innings to beat the Giants back on Aug. 10 and
is 1-1 in three games (2 starts) against them with a 1.59 ERA.
The Sports Network