San Francisco @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2011 ) San Francisco 6, San Diego 1

THE STORY: Just 11 days ago, the San Diego Padres had won 10 of 13 games and were talking about getting back in the National League West race. All that talk has ceased. The Padres have lost a season-worst seven consecutive games entering Saturday’s game with the San Francisco Giants and find themselves a full 14 games behind San Francisco. The Giants beat the Padres 6-1 on Friday as San Diego’s scoring woes deepened. The Padres have scored just five runs over the last 65 innings. Meanwhile, San Francisco stretched its lead to 4 1/2 games over second-place Arizona. Barry Zito and Cory Luebke square off in the rematch of a recent contest in which Zito and the Giants prevailed 2-1.

TV: 8:35 p.m. ET, CSBA (San Francisco), Ch4 (San Diego).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Barry Zito (3-1, 3.18) vs. Padres LH Cory Luebke (2-3, 2.57)

Zito pitched superbly when he defeated the Padres on July 7. Zito gave up one run and four hits in eight innings. He struck out a season-high seven and didn’t walk anybody. The victory improved Zito’s career mark against San Diego to 4-8. He has a 4.13 ERA in 19 career appearances (18 starts) against the Padres. Zito has allowed just three earned runs in 21 innings over his last three starts. Orlando Hudson is batting just .205 in 39 career at-bats against Zito.

Luebke struck out a career-high eight in the recent loss to the Giants. He gave up two runs and five hits in six innings. Luebke has started three times and has struck out 21 and walked just three in 17 innings. He has allowed just two runs and eight hits as a starter. Overall, batters are hitting just .169 against Luebke, who has allowed just 32 hits in 56 innings. Luebke has struck out 64 against 18 walks.

ABOUT THE PADRES (40-54): San Diego continues to struggle with the bats. The Padres had just four hits in Friday’s loss and have scored just 22 runs in 12 games this month. Friday marked the eighth time in July that the Padres scored one run or less. It’s been a rough two nights for third baseman Chase Headley. He left Saturday’s game in the first inning with a strained right calf. On Friday, he left in the seventh with a left ankle contusion. Ryan Ludwick homered against Zito on July 7 for San Diego’s lone run. Left-handed reliever Joe Thatcher (shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Sunday at Single-A Lake Elsinore. Thatcher hasn’t pitched this season.

ABOUT THE GIANTS (54-40): San Francisco has won six of seven games with four of the victories coming against the Padres. Pablo Sandoval’s 22-game hitting streak came to an end Friday. The San Francisco franchise record is 26 games by Jack Clark in 1978. Andres Torres went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Torres also had a three-hit game against the Padres on July 6. Eli Whiteside homered against Luebke in the July 7 contest. Outfielder Pat Burrell (foot) was placed on the disabled list and catcher Hector Sanchez was recalled from Triple-A Fresno. Utilityman Mark DeRosa (wrist) starts a rehab assignment at Single-A San Jose on Saturday.

FINAL PITCH: The Padres are just 19-29 at Petco Park for the second-worst home record in baseball. Only the Houston Astros (14-34) have a poorer mark.