Matt Cain tries for his first win in five starts this afternoon when the San Francisco Giants play the middle test of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Cain, who was honored before Friday's series opener with a plaque commemorating his perfect game on June 13, lost his second straight start on Monday in St. Louis and was hit hard. He allowed five runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings of that one, dropping him to 10-5 on the year, while raising his ERA to 3.01, the highest its been since April 13.
He threw 114 pitches, his most since throwing 125 in his perfecto against Houston. In his eight starts since that game his ERA is over four.
"I'm going out there to try and do my job," Cain said. "There's times you give up maybe more pitches in different games. I guess it's just make better pitches and get quicker outs."
Cain has faced the Rockies 26 times and is 13-7 with a 3.23 ERA.
Colorado, meanwhile, will counter with lefty Drew Pomeranz, who is 1-6 with a 4.76 ERA. Pomeranz did not get a decision on Monday in Los Angeles, as he scattered three hits with three walks over four scoreless innings.
"My mechanics weren't the greatest, but I made it work and gave it everything I had," said Pomeranz, who threw 84 pitches in his four innings. "I wish I had thrown a few less pitches, but it happens.
"I threw my off-speed for strikes, but I was little off with my fastball."
Pomeranz is 1-0 in two starts against the Giants with a 3.97 ERA.
On Friday, Tyler Chatwood and three other pitchers combined on a three-hit shutout as the Colorado rolled to a 3-0 win.
Chatwood (2-2) gave up three hits and two walks while striking out two over five innings for the Rockies, who have won three of their last four. Adam Ottavino pitched two innings, Matt Belisle went 1-2-3 in the eighth and Rafael Betancourt worked a perfect ninth for his 20th save of the season.
"I think what we got was a glimpse of what this potentially can look like if we get him to the point where he gains consistent command," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said of Chatwood.
Dexter Fowler, Tyler Colvin and Chris Nelson each drove in a run in the win.
Tim Lincecum (6-12) saw his two-start winning streak stopped as he gave up three runs on six hits over seven innings for the Giants, who have dropped their past two and fell into a tie with Los Angeles for first place in the NL West. Brandon Crawford had two of the three hits.
"All of us are out there doing our best everyday," said Lincecum. "We just couldn't get anything together tonight."
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