Ryan Vogelsong tries to get back into the win column when the San Francisco Giants close out a three-game series with the division-rival San Diego Padres this afternoon at Petco Park.
Vogelsong was roughed up in just 2 2/3 innings of a 14-2 loss to Washington on Monday and gave up a career high-tying eight runs and nine hits. He had won two straight and three of four starts, and snapped a streak of 22 straight starts of lasting at least six innings.
The right-hander, who is 5-2 in 10 road outings this season, defeated the Padres on July 23 with seven innings of one-run ball in a 7-1 win and is only 1-2 against them in 11 career appearances (3 starts). His ERA in that span is a lofty 7.31.
Padres starter Clayton Richard is also trying to break back into the victory slot and will toe the rubber Sunday. Richard had won back-to-back assignments and three of four decisions until a 6-0 loss at Atlanta on Tuesday.
Richard surrendered five runs and nine hits in 6 1/3 innings in that one and fell to 9-12 in 25 starts, while raising his ERA to 3.91. The left-hander, who hurled a five-hit shutout against the Cubs on Aug. 8, was beaten by the Giants in the aforementioned 7-1 contest and permitted seven runs and nine hits in five innings.
He is 5-5 in 11 career starts against San Francisco with a 4.34 ERA.
San Francisco held on for an 8-7 win last night, as Joaquin Arias went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI. Buster Posey added three hits as well with two runs scored and an RBI for the NL West-leading Giants, who are still one-half game ahead of Los Angeles and won for the 10th time in 15 tries.
"Good win for us, good comeback," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "The guys did a great job of having another big inning to save us."
Jose Mijares picked up the win in relief and Clay Hensley got the final out of the game for his third save. Starter Barry Zito was reached for four runs in four innings in the no-decision.
The Giants posted a 10-1 victory Friday night and will begin a big three-game series at L.A. on Monday. Since the All-Star break, the Giants have won 11 of their last 15 road games.
San Diego has lost five in a row and six of seven games since a six-game winning streak, and had a two-run rally in the ninth inning come up short.
Chase Headley and Carlos Quentin both homered and combined for four RBI, while Padres starter Eric Stults did not record a decision after he permitted five runs and nine hits in six innings. Brad Brach was dealt the loss for giving up two runs in the seventh inning.
"We don't give up. We play hard for 27 outs," Headley said. "We gave them a game there at the end."
Headley is batting .328 with eight homers and 24 RBI in his last 17 games. The Padres will begin a three-game series versus Pittsburgh Monday, and have been outscored 36-9 over their last five games.
The Padres have lost eight of 11 matchups with San Francisco this season and went 6-12 in the season series a year ago.
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