Bear
06-05-2008, 09:19 PM
Friday, June 6 Nationals Park | 4:35 PM PT
Tim Lincecum, RHP (7-1, 2.23) Giants (25-35) @ Jason Bergmann, RHP (1-2, 4.50) Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Lincecum received a no-decision in his last outing, working two batters into the eighth inning against San Diego. He left with a 1-0 lead but departed after a single and a walk as the Padres proceeded to score the tying run. Lincecum faced Washington once last year, emerging with a no-decision despite surrendering just one run in seven innings in a 3-2 Giants victory on Aug. 6. Lincecum happened to throw 116 pitches that night, his most in any game during his rookie season.
Nationals: Last Saturday, Bergmann pitched eight innings for his first career complete game and gave up four runs on seven hits, but the long ball did him in against the Diamondbacks. In the bottom of the second inning, Mark Reynolds hit a fastball for a home run, which snapped Bergmann's scoreless streak at 21 innings. In the seventh, Justin Upton and Reynolds hit back-to-back home runs, both coming on sliders. In the bottom of the eighth, Chris Young hit a 3-1 slider to the center-field mezzanine for his 12th home run of the season.
Saturday, June 7 Nationals Park | 4:10 PM PT
Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (4-3, 4.08) Giants (25-35) @ Shawn Hill, RHP (0-2, 4.67) Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Sanchez got into a bases-loaded jam in the first inning of his last start, but was in control from there, throwing seven innings of two-run ball. The Giants gave him a six-run cushion with which to work in the bottom of the first inning, and the Mets never recovered. Against a lineup that previously had been on a roll, Sanchez had eight strikeouts in his best performance since late April, when he went eight innings with 10 strikeouts against the Reds. Sanchez has allowed two or less runs in his last four starts.
Nationals: Hill struggled in last Sunday's loss to Arizona, giving up five runs on seven hits in four innings on the final day of the Nationals' road trip as Washington fell, 5-0. The Nationals need for the injury-plagued Hill to show the form he's displayed in the past as their lineup has been nearly decimated by injures. The runs have been few and far between, and Hill has shown he can be a solid pitcher in the past. But he's still looking for his first victory of the season, and will need everything with his arm and forearm to let hit throw like he's done before.
Sunday, June 8 Nationals Park | 10:35 AM PT
Barry Zito, LHP (1-9, 5.87) Giants (25-35) @ To be announced Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: After showing encouraging signs in his first four starts following his brief demotion to the bullpen, Zito struggled Tuesday against the Mets by allowing six runs (five earned) and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Zito lamented his poor command in explaining his trouble. He issued five walks, including two in New York's eight-run fifth inning. Zito has thrived against three Nationals who have amassed more than 10 at-bats against him: Aaron Boone (.083, 1-for-12), Cristian Guzman (.050, 1-for-20) and Dmitri Young (.200, 5-for-25). But Ronnie Belliard (.367, 11-for-30) has enjoyed success against him.
Nationals: Starter Odalis Perez left last Tuesday's game with left shoulder tendinitis, and his replacement has not been named. Manager Manny Acta said that a replacement would be named possibly as soon as Thursday, and would likely be from Triple-A Columbus.
Monday, June 9 Nationals Park | 4:10 PM PT
Matt Cain, RHP (2-4, 4.67) Giants (25-35) @ John Lannan, LHP (4-6, 3.47)
Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Cain's ERA rose from 4.38, as he allowed five runs in five innings to the Mets on Wednesday. He has won once in his last seven starts, enduring another frustrating stretch. Moreover, the Giants are only 4-9 when he pitches. Cain's last start ended a streak of six in a row in which he worked at least six innings. He's 18-15 lifetime when he pitches that long. Cain has faced the Nationals four times, posting a 1-2 record with a 3.38 ERA. Cain has struggled on the road, where he's 0-2 with a 4.79 ERA in six starts.
Nationals: Lannan turned in another strong performance Thursday in game one of a doubleheader against St. Louis. Despite struggling with his control, the left-hander only allowed two runs over six innings, dropping his ERA to 3.47. However, he picked up the loss as the Cardinals shut down the Nationals' offense in a 4-1 loss.
I have hopes of 2 maybe 3 wins in this series.
Tim Lincecum, RHP (7-1, 2.23) Giants (25-35) @ Jason Bergmann, RHP (1-2, 4.50) Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Lincecum received a no-decision in his last outing, working two batters into the eighth inning against San Diego. He left with a 1-0 lead but departed after a single and a walk as the Padres proceeded to score the tying run. Lincecum faced Washington once last year, emerging with a no-decision despite surrendering just one run in seven innings in a 3-2 Giants victory on Aug. 6. Lincecum happened to throw 116 pitches that night, his most in any game during his rookie season.
Nationals: Last Saturday, Bergmann pitched eight innings for his first career complete game and gave up four runs on seven hits, but the long ball did him in against the Diamondbacks. In the bottom of the second inning, Mark Reynolds hit a fastball for a home run, which snapped Bergmann's scoreless streak at 21 innings. In the seventh, Justin Upton and Reynolds hit back-to-back home runs, both coming on sliders. In the bottom of the eighth, Chris Young hit a 3-1 slider to the center-field mezzanine for his 12th home run of the season.
Saturday, June 7 Nationals Park | 4:10 PM PT
Jonathan Sanchez, LHP (4-3, 4.08) Giants (25-35) @ Shawn Hill, RHP (0-2, 4.67) Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Sanchez got into a bases-loaded jam in the first inning of his last start, but was in control from there, throwing seven innings of two-run ball. The Giants gave him a six-run cushion with which to work in the bottom of the first inning, and the Mets never recovered. Against a lineup that previously had been on a roll, Sanchez had eight strikeouts in his best performance since late April, when he went eight innings with 10 strikeouts against the Reds. Sanchez has allowed two or less runs in his last four starts.
Nationals: Hill struggled in last Sunday's loss to Arizona, giving up five runs on seven hits in four innings on the final day of the Nationals' road trip as Washington fell, 5-0. The Nationals need for the injury-plagued Hill to show the form he's displayed in the past as their lineup has been nearly decimated by injures. The runs have been few and far between, and Hill has shown he can be a solid pitcher in the past. But he's still looking for his first victory of the season, and will need everything with his arm and forearm to let hit throw like he's done before.
Sunday, June 8 Nationals Park | 10:35 AM PT
Barry Zito, LHP (1-9, 5.87) Giants (25-35) @ To be announced Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: After showing encouraging signs in his first four starts following his brief demotion to the bullpen, Zito struggled Tuesday against the Mets by allowing six runs (five earned) and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. Zito lamented his poor command in explaining his trouble. He issued five walks, including two in New York's eight-run fifth inning. Zito has thrived against three Nationals who have amassed more than 10 at-bats against him: Aaron Boone (.083, 1-for-12), Cristian Guzman (.050, 1-for-20) and Dmitri Young (.200, 5-for-25). But Ronnie Belliard (.367, 11-for-30) has enjoyed success against him.
Nationals: Starter Odalis Perez left last Tuesday's game with left shoulder tendinitis, and his replacement has not been named. Manager Manny Acta said that a replacement would be named possibly as soon as Thursday, and would likely be from Triple-A Columbus.
Monday, June 9 Nationals Park | 4:10 PM PT
Matt Cain, RHP (2-4, 4.67) Giants (25-35) @ John Lannan, LHP (4-6, 3.47)
Nationals (24-36)
Scouting Report:
Giants: Cain's ERA rose from 4.38, as he allowed five runs in five innings to the Mets on Wednesday. He has won once in his last seven starts, enduring another frustrating stretch. Moreover, the Giants are only 4-9 when he pitches. Cain's last start ended a streak of six in a row in which he worked at least six innings. He's 18-15 lifetime when he pitches that long. Cain has faced the Nationals four times, posting a 1-2 record with a 3.38 ERA. Cain has struggled on the road, where he's 0-2 with a 4.79 ERA in six starts.
Nationals: Lannan turned in another strong performance Thursday in game one of a doubleheader against St. Louis. Despite struggling with his control, the left-hander only allowed two runs over six innings, dropping his ERA to 3.47. However, he picked up the loss as the Cardinals shut down the Nationals' offense in a 4-1 loss.
I have hopes of 2 maybe 3 wins in this series.