Philadelphia @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2015 ) Philadelphia 2, San Francisco 15

The San Francisco Giants may have found the cure-all for their ailing offense in the lowly Philadelphia Phillies, who have lost 13 of their last 16 and fallen a season-high 31 games under .500. The Giants head into Saturday’s contest at AT&T Park on a high note after recording season highs in runs and hits (22) in Friday’s 15-2 rout.

San Francisco began the series hoping for a spark after scoring a total of nine runs in their previous six games, and Hunter Pence provided the key blow with a fourth-inning grand slam off Phillies ace Cole Hamels. Pence has seven RBI in three games since returning from the disabled list and could soon be joined by left fielder Nori Aoki, who has been out since June 20 with a broken right foot. The outlook is not as optimistic for the Phillies, who have scored a total of two runs while facing Zack Greinke, Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner during a three-game losing streak. Second baseman Cesar Hernandez has followed his 12-game hitting streak by going hitless in 12 at-bats during the last three contests.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, MLB Network, CSN (Philadelphia), NBC Bay Area (San Francisco)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Phillies RH David Buchanan (0-5, 8.76 ERA) vs. Giants RH Ryan Vogelsong (6-6, 4.10)

Buchanan is being recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to start in place of the recently demoted Sean O’Sullivan. The 26-year-old struggled in five starts with the Phillies early this season and has gone 13 starts since his last victory on Aug. 6, 2014. Buchanan held the Giants to three runs (two earned) over 6 2/3 innings while throwing 105 pitches in a 5-2 loss at AT&T Park on Aug. 17, 2014.

Vogelsong was ejected for the first time in his career last Sunday, when he allowed one run in four innings against Washington. Inconsistency has been an issue for the 2011 All-Star, who opened the season with a 9.31 ERA in his first five starts before posting a 1.14 ERA in May and a 4.11 ERA in six June outings. Vogelsong fell to 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in four career starts against the Phillies after yielding five runs over 6 2/3 innings on June 7.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Phillies are 3-54 when trailing after seven innings.

2. Pence has recorded 16 home runs and 35 RBI in 40 career games against his former team.

3. Philadelphia optioned RHP Severino Gonzalez to Triple-A to make room for Buchanan.

PREDICTION: Giants 6, Phillies 5