From one division-title contender to the next, the Giants will host Arizona for three games after dropping a series to San Diego earlier in the week. These are the teams the Giants want to be taking games from; now they just need to start taking them.
"We come out here every day and give it our best. We're professionals, all of us -- myself, the staff, the players," Bochy said after Wednesday's loss. "We're paid to do a job and that's come out here and give it your best. That's what we have to keep doing."
The Giants and the D-backs have been pretty evenly matched this season. The Giants swept Arizona in their first meeting, and then Arizona returned the favor in the next matchup.
The D-backs are up 5-4 in games this season, but the Giants are 3-0 against the D-backs at China Basin. The Giants are also 91-68 against Arizona all-time.
The Giants' best skid stopper, Matt Morris, will start for the Giants in his third appearance against Arizona this season. Morris is 4-5 with one save and a 3.36 ERA against the D-backs. On Friday, he will be starting against former Giants pitcher Livan Hernandez.
Hernandez pitched for the Giants from 1999-2002 and complied a 4.56 ERA and 484 strikeouts.
Pitching matchup
SF: RHP Matt Morris (7-4, 3.39 ERA)
Morris didn't earn the win in his last start, but the Giants halted an eight-game losing skid behind him. Morris gave up 13 hits, but limited the Yankees to four runs over 5 2/3 innings. He has faced the D-backs twice this season and was saddled with a loss in both meetings despite allowing just a run in an eight-inning complete game against them on June 6.
ARI: RHP Livan Hernandez (5-5, 4.68 ERA)
Hernandez's month-long struggles continued Saturday against the Orioles, as he allowed four runs on nine hits in four-plus innings. Hernandez, among the league leaders in walks, also dealt with control problems, giving out four free passes and racking up 99 pitches (56 strikes). Hernandez is 0-2 with a 10.83 ERA in his past three starts and 0-3 with a 7.67 ERA in five June outings.
Player to watch
Omar Vizquel's fancy glove work is always exciting to watch, and the shortstop was swinging the bat better than he had been all season, 6-for-15 with a homer in the three games before tightness in his groin forced him to sit out. He's expected back in the lineup Friday and holds a .333 career average against Hernandez