Giants at Diamondbacks
Evan Longoria is on a mini-tear and looks to continue his solid play when the San Francisco Giants visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday for the second contest of their four-game series. Longoria homered and drove in four runs during his three-hit performance in Thursday's 7-0 victory and is 10-for-20 with two blasts and nine RBIs over his last five contests.
Both teams sit 3 1/2 games behind the Chicago Cubs for the National League's second wild-card spot after San Francisco's opening salvo. Austin Slater also fueled the Giants' 13-hit attack by reaching base five times on three hits and two walks while scoring twice. Arizona recorded just three hits and did not get a runner in scoring position while losing for the fourth time in six games. Christian Walker has gone hitless in seven at-bats over two straight setbacks after recording two hits in five of his previous nine contests.
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (9-9, 3.55 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Mike Leake (9-9, 4.58)
Samardzija was superb while beating Philadelphia in his last outing as he gave up one run and two hits over eight innings. The 34-year-old has won two of his last three starts and allowed just three runs and 12 hits over 24 frames in his last four turns. Samardzija is 1-1 with a 6.35 ERA in two turns against the Diamondbacks this season and 4-5 with a 4.39 ERA in 19 career appearances (14 starts).
Leake will be making his third start since being acquired from Seattle and is attempting to bounce back from a poor effort. The 31-year-old suffered a loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday as he gave up eight runs and 10 hits - four homers - over five innings. Leake is 5-2 with a 4.62 ERA in 11 career appearances (10 starts) versus the Giants and has struggled with Brandon Crawford (9-for-26, two doubles, two homers).
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks LF David Peralta (neck) was hitless in four at-bats Thursday as he returned to the starting lineup and is just 2-for-18 over his last six contests.
2. San Francisco recalled RHP Dereck Rodriguez - who pitched seven strong innings on Thursday - and purchased the contract of LHP Fernando Abad from Triple-A Sacramento, optioned LHP Williams Jerez, RHP Burch Smith and C Aramis Garcia to the River Cats and designated RHP Kyle Barraclough for assignment.
3. Arizona placed LHP Robbie Ray (back) on the 10-day injured list, optioned OF Tim Locastro to Triple-A Reno and recalled RHPs Stefan Crichton and Jon Duplantier - who both pitched two innings on Thursday - from the Aces.