Giants at Marlins
Harold Ramirez has played a big role in the recent success of the Miami Marlins, and the 24-year-old rookie outfielder looks to extend his hitting streak to nine games when the struggling San Francisco Giants visit for the second of a three-game set Wednesday. Ramirez, who has reached base in 12 of his first 13 major league contests, had three hits to improve to 16-for-32 during his steak as the Marlins rolled to an 11-3 win Tuesday.
Ramirez began his journey in the minors in 2012 and is batting .413 since being recalled to add to an improving Miami offense that has produced double-digit runs twice in the last five games and helped the Marlins win eight of their past 11 overall. Pablo Lopez hopes to keep things going when he takes the mound for Miami on Wednesday and former World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner gets the job of trying to cool off Ramirez and Jorge Alfaro, who launched a three-run homer Tuesday and is 7-for-18 with two blasts in his last five games. The Giants have dropped six straight games to tumble into last place in the National League West and managed just three hits in the first eight innings Tuesday, including a homer by Joe Panik on the first pitch of the game. San Francisco’s starting pitchers have registered a 5.70 ERA in the last eight games and the entire staff has allowed 59 runs during the losing streak.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Madison Bumgarner (3-4, 4.10 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Pablo Lopez (3-5, 5.40)
Bumgarner is unbeaten in five outings this month with four quality starts, including last Thursday when he held Atlanta to two runs over six innings of a no-decision. The 29-year-old North Carolina native has completed at least six innings in 10 of his 11 starts and struck out 70 across 68 total frames. Starlin Castro is 14-for-33 with three doubles versus Bumgarner, who is 2-3 with a 4.96 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins.
Lopez has alternated strong and poor outings this month, giving up four hits over 13 scoreless innings in a pair of them and 14 runs across 6 2/3 frames in the other two. The 23-year-old Venezuela native avoided a decision last Friday when he gave up four runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings at Washington. Lopez, who faces the Giants for the first time, is 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA at home as opposed to 1-4 and 8.26 on the road.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Francisco 1B Brandon Belt had a double and scored a run Tuesday, reaching base in the 21st straight games against the Marlins.
2. Miami RF Garrett Cooper also launched a three-run homer Tuesday and is 10-for-33 over his last eight contests.
3. Giants C Stephen Vogt is 3-for-3 with a double, a walk and a run scored in his last three games.