San Francisco @ Colorado preview
Coors Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 11, 2012 ) San Francisco 9, Colorado 8
The National League West-leading San Francisco Giants try to clinch another road series victory Wednesday when they face the Colorado Rockies in the rubber game of their three-game set at Coors Field. San Francisco has gone 7-0-1 in its last eight road series since dropping a set in Pittsburgh from July 6-8. The Giants, who are an NL-best 20-7 on the road since the All-Star break, increased their division lead over Los Angeles to six games by hanging on for a 9-8 victory on Tuesday.
Brandon Belt had a homer and four RBIs and starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner went 2-for-2 with a three-run blast. Bumgarner did not fare as well on the mound, however, as he surrendered five runs and 11 hits in just 4 1/3 innings. The Rockies staged a late rally to get within a run, but they were unable to come all the way back and lost for the seventh time in nine games. Colorado has won only two of its eight home meetings with San Francisco this year.
TV: 8:40 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), Root Sports (Colorado)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Tim Lincecum (8-14, 5.11 ERA) vs. Rockies LH Jeff Francis (5-4, 5.38)
Lincecum is coming off a no-decision against Los Angeles in which he allowed two runs and four hits with a career-high seven walks in 6 1/3 innings. The two-time NL Cy Young Award winner has yielded three runs or less in nine of his last 11 starts. Lincecum is 9-7 with 3.67 ERA in 21 career starts against Colorado.
Francis also settled for a no-decision in his last outing despite scattering six hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings at Philadelphia on Friday. It was the second time in three starts the veteran left-hander kept his opponent off the scoreboard as he also tossed five scoreless frames against Los Angeles on Aug. 27. Francis has broken even against San Francisco, going 7-7 with a 5.19 ERA in 17 career starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Giants OF Xavier Nady missed his fifth consecutive game with a strained left hamstring but could be back for the weekend series against the Diamondbacks.
2. Colorado recorded 17 hits in Tuesday's loss, with six of the top seven hitters in the lineup registering two or more.
3. San Francisco OF Angel Pagan hit his 12th triple of the year Tuesday, tying him with Steve Finley (2006) and Willie Mays (1960) for most in a single season since the club moved from New York.