When the Giants played the Padres in San Diego three weeks ago, they split a four-game series with the National League West leader. Giants manager Felipe Alou hopes his team can either duplicate that, or win the series outright when it welcomes the Padres to AT&T Park on Thursday for the opener of another four-game set.
"It is big," Alou said. "You like to win the series, but in a worst-case scenario, you gotta split it so you can stay in the hunt."
The Giants will send Noah Lowry to the mound to pick up what they hope will be the first of four straight wins. The task may prove to be a challenge for the left-hander. Since his return from the disabled list on May 8, Lowry has had mixed results. After allowing six runs in his loss to the Phillies on Saturday, he said his recent outings are the result of problems with inconsistent mechanics. He even showed mechanical issues during his 11-7 win over the Dodgers three starts ago.
Squaring off with Lowry will be Chan Ho Park. The Padres starter beat the Giants in San Diego on June 30. In that 6-5 victory, he allowed three home runs, and he has given up 15 total this season. He is 7-7 with a 4.96 ERA in 19 career starts against San Francisco.
Pitching matchup
SF: LHP Noah Lowry (4-6, 4.58 ERA)
Lowry struggled in his last outing, allowing six hits and six runs over only 3 2/3 innings, the start of a 14-6 rout by Philadelphia.
SD: RHP Chan Ho Park (6-5, 4.49 ERA)
Park gave up seven runs in his last start, a 5 1/3-inning outing against the Braves. Two of his eight hits were home runs. He has allowed eight in his last four starts.
Player to watch
Pedro Feliz went 2-for-3 with a home run last time Park faced the Giants. The third baseman has hit safely in 14 of his last 19 games, batting .312 (23-for-74) in that stretch.