Diamondbacks at Giants
The Arizona Diamondbacks were cruising along while fighting for first place in the National League West early in May, but they arrive for a three-game road series against the San Francisco Giants on Friday night trying to get back over the .500 mark. The Diamondbacks have dropped five straight games after Wednesday’s 5-2 setback at San Diego and are 5-12 since May 5.
“We got off to a good start to the season,” Arizona shortstop Nick Ahmed told MLB.com after Wednesday’s loss. “That allows you to handle a stretch like this and still have a good season. We’re going to bounce back.” Robbie Ray, who suffered his lone loss on April 3, looks to help the Diamondbacks (25-25) start to turn things around when he takes the mound in the series opener, while San Francisco counters with fellow left-hander Drew Pomeranz in a battle of Tennessee natives. The Giants dropped three of four against Atlanta at home - capped by a 5-4 setback in 13 innings on Thursday that made them 10-15 at Oracle Park and 13-5 in one-run games - after winning two of three contests at Arizona last week. San Francisco’s Joe Panik went 4-for-9 with two RBIs and two walks in the last two contests, while teammate Tyler Austin homered for the second straight day.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks LH Robbie Ray (3-1, 3.25 ERA) vs. Giants LH Drew Pomeranz (1-4, 5.66)
Ray is unbeaten in his last eight trips to the mound but posted only three wins during that stretch while completing six innings just twice. The 27-year-old allowed two runs on three hits and four walks over four innings last week against the Giants and has issued 29 free passes in 52 2/3 frames overall. Evan Longoria is 6-for-9 with three doubles and a homer versus Ray, who had a 3.94 ERA in three outings against San Francisco last year.
Pomeranz permitted two runs on two hits and five walks over 4 2/3 innings of a no-decision at Arizona last Sunday in his first start since returning from a lat strain. The 30-year-old Ole Miss product has completed more than five innings in just one of his eight starts and has served up eight homers in 35 frames overall. Ahmed is 2-for-4 with a double against Pomeranz, who is 0-3 with a 7.76 ERA in nine career games (six starts) versus the Diamondbacks.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco SS Brandon Crawford missed Thursday’s game due to conjunctivitis (pink eye) and will likely miss the series opener.
2. Arizona LF David Peralta (.309 batting average, seven homers, 30 RBIs) missed Wednesday’s game with a sore shoulder and is day-to-day.
3. The Giants have been outscored 48-8 in the first inning this season and are tied with Pittsburgh for 13th in the NL with 186 runs.