Rockies-Giants Preview By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer
Despite a rough start, Matt Cain still has the belief of San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy. Another sketchy outing against the Colorado Rockies and that might change. Cain looks to snap a 12-start winless stretch Thursday night when the Giants host the Rockies. For the second time in his five starts, Cain (0-3, 7.00 ERA) allowed six runs, this time along with seven hits and two hit batters over six innings of a 6-5 loss to the New York Mets on Saturday. The other occasion Cain yielded that many runs was at Colorado on April 14, when he lasted 4 2/3 innings. Though the right-hander is 0-6 with a 6.75 ERA in 12 starts since winning at San Diego on July 22 and in danger of going 0-4 for the first time in his career, Bochy doesn't plan to replace Cain or fellow struggling veteran Jake Peavy at the back end of the rotation. "I have too much confidence in these two guys," Bochy told MLB's official website. "I think when it's all said and done, these two will get their wins and help us a lot." After Cain allowed four runs in the first two innings Saturday, Bochy was pleased with the way he regrouped and found a decent rhythm en route to throwing a season-high 108 pitches. ''He settled in really nicely and made some really good pitches," Bochy said. "So, it's encouraging the way Matt settled down and threw the ball well and gave us six.'' Cain will look to help the Giants (15-14) bounce back after their three-game winning streak ended when Peavy allowed seven runs in six innings of Wednesday's 7-4 defeat at Cincinnati. Brandon Belt homered for one of his two hits and went 6 for 10 in that three-game series. He was 5 for 12 with two home runs when the Giants dropped two of three at Coors Field last month. Belt, however, is 2 for 23 with nine strikeouts in his last seven home games against the Rockies (13-14). He's 0 for 4 with two strikeouts when facing Chris Rusin (1-0, 1.69). The left-hander earned his win after throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief in a 10-6 victory over San Francisco on April 13. Due to injuries, Rusin was moved to the rotation and he allowed one hit and struck out six in five innings of a 5-2 win at Arizona in his first 2016 start Saturday. Rusin, who hasn't allowed a run in 14 2/3 consecutive innings, went 5-10 with a 5.62 ERA in 22 starts last season for Colorado. "I'm very comfortable with him on the mound in any role," manager Walt Weiss said. "He has shown the ability to control his surroundings, control the game." Rusin is 1-1 with a 2.54 ERA in four starts against the Giants. Colorado avoided a sweep at the hands of San Diego with Wednesday's 2-0 victory to improve to 4-2 on a 10-game trip. DJ LeMahieu, who brought home a run with a squeeze bunt Wednesday, is 6 for 18 with a homer and a double against Cain. LeMahieu is batting .353 in his last 10 games at San Francisco. |