Atlanta @ San Francisco preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 25, 2012 ) Atlanta 7, San Francisco 3

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jason Heyward is finding spacious AT&T Park to be a cozy venue. Heyward has homered in each of the past two games and has five homers in nine career contests in San Francisco entering Sunday’s finale of a four-game set. Heyward’s three-run homer on Saturday helped snap the Giants’ five-game winning streak. Braves starter Tim Hudson seeks his seventh consecutive victory while San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum hopes to avoid losing 14 games for the second straight year.

Atlanta leads the National League wild card race while San Francisco continues to stay atop the NL West. The Braves have won just two of their past eight games following a fantastic 18-5 stretch. The Giants have won seven of nine games and figure to have an intense battle with the Los Angeles Dodgers, who ratcheted up their artillery by acquiring first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and starter Josh Beckett from the Boston Red Sox. San Francisco had allowed just 11 runs during its five-game winning streak prior to Saturday’s 7-3 loss.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN

PITCHING MATCHUP: Braves RH Tim Hudson (12-4, 3.69 ERA) vs. Giants RH Tim Lincecum (7-13, 5.30)

Hudson hasn’t lost since falling to the Washington Nationals on July 1. He took a no-decision in his last outing when Washington had four runs and seven hits off him in six innings last Monday. Hudson defeated the Giants on July 19 when he gave up two runs and eight hits in 7 1/3 innings. He is 7-4 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 career starts against San Francisco.

Lincecum is experiencing a dreadful season and has already allowed more runs (86) this season than at any time during his six-year career. He won his last outing when he gave up one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings while beating the Los Angeles Dodgers. Lincecum hasn’t faced Atlanta this season. He is 6-4 with a 3.12 ERA in 10 career starts against the Braves.

WALK-OFFS

1. Heyward is batting .390 with eight extra-base hits (including four homers) over his last 11 games.

2. Giants OF Angel Pagan is batting .355 with a homer in 31 career at-bats against Hudson. He had an eight-game hitting streak snapped Saturday.

3. Braves C Brian McCann is batting .333 with a homer and four doubles in 27 career at-bats against Lincecum.