New York @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Jul 31, 2012 ) NY Mets 1, San Francisco 4
The San Francisco Giants made a statement by acquiring Hunter Pence at the trade deadline. The two-time All-Star outfielder is expected to make his debut with his new team as the host Giants play the third of their four-game series versus the New York Mets on Wednesday. San Francisco snapped a season-high five-game losing skid and claimed sole possession of first place in the National League West with a 4-1 victory on Tuesday.
Pence reached AT&T Park just as Tuesday's game was coming to an end. The former Philadelphia Phillies star was traded for fellow outfielder Nate Schierholtz, minor league catcher Tommy Joseph and right-hander Seth Rosin. Pence will look to power the Giants past the Mets, who were done in by Ruben Tejada's costly error on Tuesday. The loss was New York's 15th in 19 games.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSBA (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets LH Jonathon Niese (7-5, 3.86 ERA) vs. Giants RH Matt Cain (10-3, 2.80)
Niese will vie for his first win in nearly a month when he takes the mound on Wednesday. The 25-year-old matched a season-high by allowing eight runs on nine hits in an 11-5 loss to Arizona on Friday. Niese recorded a quality start versus San Francisco on April 20, yielding three runs in six innings.
Cain settled for his second straight no-decision after yielding three runs on nine hits in seven innings versus the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday. The 27-year-old has enjoyed success against the Mets, posting a 5-3 mark with a 1.24 WHIP. Cain has yet to face New York this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. New York's Scott Hairston collected a pair of hits on Tuesday to improve to 9-for-19 in his last five games. Hairston, who had two homers on Monday, is just 3-for-15 with six strikeouts in his career versus Cain.
2. San Francisco 1B Aubrey Huff is expected to be placed on the 15-day disabled list with an ailing knee. Huff aggravated the injury during Monday's series opener.
3. New York general manager Sandy Alderson elected to stand pat at the trading deadline - neither acquiring or trading any talent. Alderson admitted while the team's struggles over the last three weeks were disconcerting, "it's not the end of the season," he said.