New York @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 1, 2012 ) NY Mets 2, San Francisco 1
Although the San Francisco Giants reside atop the National League West, their play as of late hardly resembles that of a division leader. The Giants fell for the sixth time in seven outings after dropping a 2-1 decision to the New York Mets on Wednesday. San Francisco, which holds a slim one-game lead over the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers, will attempt to salvage a split in its four-game series against the Mets at AT&T Park on Thursday.
Hunter Pence received a hero's welcome in his debut with the Giants, but he was quiet in terms of production. Acquired from Philadelphia prior to the trade deadline, Pence went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts - with the latter one coming in the ninth inning. New York has won three of its last four and four of seven on its 11-game road trip.
TV: 3:45 p.m. ET, SNY (New York), CSBA (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Mets RH Chris Young (2-5, 4.58 ERA) vs. Giants LH Barry Zito (8-7, 3.89)
Young is looking to put a brutal July behind him. The 33-year-old fell to 0-4 in the month after yielding six runs on seven hits in four innings en route to a 6-3 loss to Arizona on Saturday. Young is 3-4 versus the Giants, but has yet to face them this season.
Zito fell for the fifth time in eight decisions after yielding four runs in 5 1/3 innings in a 10-0 loss to the Dodgers on Saturday. The veteran southpaw was victimized by a pair of solo homers in his last outing versus the Mets on April 20, but pitched well otherwise en route to a no-decision. Zito is 3-2 in his career against New York.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco's Marco Scutaro has adjusted nicely to his new team by going 7-for-17 in five games since coming over from Colorado. He's 2-for-7 with a pair of doubles in his career against Young.
2. New York's top prospect Zack Wheeler was promoted to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, one day removed from striking out a season-best 11 batters for Double-A Binghamton. The 22-year-old is not expected to join the Mets this season, according to New York manager Terry Collins.
3. Giants C Buster Posey provided the Giants' lone offense with a two-out homer in the sixth inning. Posey has collected hits in six straight games and nine of his last 10.