San Francisco @ Atlanta preview
Turner Field
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2010 ) San Francisco 3, Atlanta 2
A sputtering offense has the Atlanta Braves in danger of falling into a tie atop the NL East. Luckily for the Braves, Tim Hudson hasn’t needed much support as of late.
Atlanta’s ace takes the mound on Saturday seeking a fourth straight win against the San Francisco Giants, who counter with Matt Cain in what should be a terrific duel between a pair of playoff contenders.
The Braves once held a seven-game lead in the NL East, but it has dwindled rapidly due to their lack of offense. Atlanta has scored three runs or less in eight of its last 11 games.
With such little run production, the Braves’ margin for error has been razor thin. Errors, however, are exactly what cost them in Friday’s 3-2 loss in 11 innings.
Atlanta committed two miscues in the ninth, allowing the Giants to tie the game without the benefit of a base hit. Pat Burrell later hit the game-winning sacrifice fly in the 11th inning.
The loss, combined with the Philadelphia Phillies' 7-5 win over the New York Mets, cut the Braves’ lead in the division to one game.
Atlanta hands the ball to Hudson (12-5, 2.36 ERA), its hottest pitcher, in hopes of remaining in the driver's seat. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.87 ERA since allowing a season-high six runs to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 17.
Hudson allowed one run and six hits in six innings of a 4-1 win over the Mets on Monday to improve to 7-3 with a 2.24 ERA at Turner Field. He allowed two runs and three hits in seven innings against the Giants on April 9 - his first start of the season - but didn’t receive a decision.
Hudson is 4-4 with a 3.90 ERA in 12 starts against the Giants, who snapped a two-game skid on Friday and moved to within one game of the NL West-leading San Diego Padres.
San Francisco has gone 16-6 since the All-Star break, gaining 5 1/2 games on the first-place Padres in the process.
Cain (9-8, 2.98 ERA) has been an integral part of their second-half charge. The right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in his last four starts. He allowed four hits in 7 2/3 innings of a 2-0 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday.
Cain is 2-1 with a 3.75 ERA in four starts against Atlanta. He won his only career start at Turner Field two years ago by allowing one run and six hits in seven innings.
The Giants hope Georgia native Buster Posey can get back on track after going 0-for-7 in the first two contests of this four-game series. Posey won National League Rookie of the Month for July by hitting .417.