Corbin tries to slow Giants' momentum

Published Apr. 23, 2013 10:56 a.m. ET

foxsports

By ALAN FERGUSON
STATS Writer

After watching his team add to its early dominance against division foes, the San Francisco Giants' Matt Cain will attempt to continue his versus the Arizona Diamondbacks.

While trying to bounce back from a rough outing, Cain will also look to lead the Giants to an eighth consecutive home win and a season-high fifth in a row overall Tuesday night as he opposes the red-hot Patrick Corbin.

San Francisco (13-7) improved to 9-1 against the NL West by rallying for a 5-4 victory in Monday's series opener at AT&T Park. Buster Posey hit a tying two-run homer in the eighth inning, and Brandon Belt singled in the winning run in the ninth.

"There's no quit in this team. I can tell you that," pitcher Ryan Vogelsong said. "We fight `til the last out. It's pretty fun to watch."

Cain (0-2, 7.15 ERA) will try to help his team register its 10th consecutive win against a division foe while earning his first of the season. The right-hander, though, could use a far better performance than in his most recent game.

Cain gave up seven runs - including three two-run homers - in his first three innings Thursday in Milwaukee before making it through the next three unscathed.

"I will say, Cain gave us a gutty effort," manager Bruce Bochy said. "He regrouped and made a nice adjustment. He pitched great the last three innings. But, when you give up three two-run homers, that is hard to overcome."

Cain has alternated between effective and miserable performances in his four starts, but he's been sharp in his last three against Arizona (10-9), going 3-0 with a 1.00 ERA. He yielded four hits and a walk while striking out six over seven innings in the most recent, a 6-0 home win Sept. 26.

Cain, though, might have to outduel Corbin (2-0, 1.42) in this outing. The left-hander continued his excellent start Thursday at New York, giving up a solo homer, a single and three walks while striking out seven over seven innings.

That 6-2 win in 12 innings is one of only two so far on Arizona's nine-game road trip, which concludes Wednesday.

Corbin gave up six runs over three innings in his most recent visit to AT&T Park, a 7-3 loss Sept. 27. He was 2-0 with a 3.15 ERA in his first three starts against the Giants.

Marco Scutaro and Hunter Pence each hit two-run homers off Corbin in that September win. Pence is 3 for 8 against Corbin and Posey, who has two homers and five RBIs in the last two games, is 4 for 11.

Wil Nieves is 4 for 6 with two doubles against Cain.

The Giants haven't won eight straight at home since a nine-game streak May 6-22, 2011, which included a sweep over Arizona.