San Francisco Giants

Giants' Stratton has more time to prepare for start vs. Diamondbacks (Aug 05, 2017)

Published Aug. 5, 2017 4:13 a.m. ET

SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Giants rookie right-hander Chris Stratton didn't get much of a heads up before making his first major league start on July 6 against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

About 20 minutes before the first pitch, the Giants scratched scheduled starter Johnny Cueto with an inner ear infection and told Stratton to start warming up for his first start.

"They tell you to always be prepared for anything," Stratton said Friday. "It was definitely a surprise, but I went out there and did the best I could. Kind of let it get away a little bit from me there early but finished strong."

Stratton allowed five runs and six hits, walked five and struck out one in 6 2/3 innings of a 6-2 loss to the Tigers.

Stratton will make his second major league start on Saturday night against the Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Taijuan Walker at AT&T Park.

This time, Stratton had a two days' advanced notice that he will start against Arizona and replace Matt Cain in the rotation.

"He didn't have a real big heads up on this one, but a couple more days," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Sure it will be easier for him, but the only thing is he hasn't faced hitters in 10 days. But he's been throwing. We kept him throwing, kept him ready. He'll be ready to go. I can't tell you what's going to happen, but he's ready to go."

The Diamondbacks defeated San Francisco 2-1 on Friday night in the first game of the three-game series. Rookie left-lander Anthony Banda picked up his first major league win, allowing one run and three hits in six innings.

Walker is 6-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 17 starts in his first season with the Diamondbacks, who acquired him from Seattle on Nov. 23.

Walker hasn't won a decision since June 21 at Colorado. He's 0-2 with four no-decisions in his past six starts despite a respectable 3.75 ERA, 32 strikeouts and just 13 walks during that stretch.

"That's baseball," Walker said. "You've got guys that have a 5 or 6 ERA but have like 14 wins. It's just baseball. Some guys when they go out there, the team wins. When I go out there, if the team wins that day, I've done my job."

Walker is 2-1 with a 3.50 ERA in three career starts against the Giants. At AT&T Park, he's 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA in two starts.

"I like this park," Walker said. "This is a nice park to pitch at. Definitely more of a pitchers park."

Walker, however, said he has confidence pitching at any park, especially playing for a team that has so much offensive firepower.

"Confidence knowing that our offense is so good that I can go out there and if I make one or two mistakes and give up two or three runs, we still have a real good shot of winning the game," Walker said.

The Giants will almost certainly be without first baseman Brandon Belt for Saturday's game. Belt was hit in the head with a pitch leading off the sixth inning and left the game.

On a 2-1 count, Banda hit Belt with a 79 mph curveball. Belt turned away from the high pitch and was struck in the helmet. He walked off the field under his own power after being examined by Giants trainer Dave Groeschner.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy said Belt has concussion symptoms and will be further evaluated Saturday. He has had two previous concussions in the major leagues and one during college.

"This is probably scaring him a little bit because he's been through this," Bochy said.