San Francisco @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 31, 2014 ) San Francisco 9, Arizona 8

The Arizona Diamondbacks will try to regroup Tuesday after blowing a four-run lead with seven outs remaining in Monday’s series opener against the visiting San Francisco Giants. The Diamondbacks were sailing along but their bullpen couldn’t get the final out of the seventh and they eventually lost 9-8 after Buster Posey clubbed a two-run homer in the top of the ninth. Arizona is off to an 0-3 start and is still reeling from news that ace pitcher Patrick Corbin will miss the season after undergoing elbow surgery last week.

The Giants are confident first-baseman Brandon Belt can take another big step this season and he’s off to a fine start, collecting three hits, including a solo homer, in the season opener Monday. He didn’t hit his first home run last season until his 18th game and ended up with 17. There was a time when Belt would have gotten a day off against a lefty like Wade Miley, but not anymore.

TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), Fox Sports Arizona

PITCHING MATCHUP: San Francisco RH Matt Cain (2013: 8-10, 4.00 ERA) vs. Arizona LH Wade Miley (0-1, 5.40).

Miley struck out eight in five innings of his season debut 10 days ago against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Australia, but he gave up three runs and that was enough for the Dodgers in the 3-1 win that set up their doubleheader sweep. He was given another Cactus League start last week but wasn’t all that sharp, lasting just 4 2/3 innings and giving up three runs on seven hits. Miley told reporters he was struggling with his command, causing him to fall behind in the count.

Cain got rocked in his final Cactus League appearance, surrendering seven runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Oakland A’s. The coaching staff decided to give him additional work and he threw six solid innings against the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A team last week, yielding three hits and three runs. It wasn’t a typical minor-league lineup either, as former and current Major Leaguers Yorvit Torrealba, Brennan Boesch, Ian Stewart and J.B. Shuck were part of the batting order.

WALK-OFFS

1 Giants closer Sergio Romo has allowed one home run in 23 appearances at Chase Field. That was by Arizona C Miguel Montero in the ninth inning Monday.

2. The Nos. 1-4 hitters for San Francisco are a combined 8-for-20 with six RBIs.

3. Arizona 1B Paul Goldschmidt has hit safely in 22 straight games.

PREDICTION: Giants 5, Diamondbacks 2