Giants lineup: Posey at first, Belt in left

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SAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Belt is in starting in left field for the rubber match between the Giants and Diamondbacks Thursday, but surely fans won't see Belt -- who has two outfield starts this year -- in left field for the playoffs, right?

"You could," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's an option. I like the way he's swinging the bat. It's nice to have Belt as a possibility playing in left field."

Belt is 1-for-7 in his two outfield starts this year, both coming in left. But since the beginning of August, Belt has seen the ball big. He is batting .338 (50-for-148) with three home runs and 22 RBIs.

Thursday's start will be somewhat of a tryout for 24-year old.

"If we think they're a liability, it's hard to put them out there," Bochy said. "But right now, we don't. Now, if it turns out to be a tough day out there for Brandon, maybe that would sway me a little bit. But he hasn't shown that yet.

"He wants to play out there. He's comfortable. So I have no problem putting out a lineup like this for the playoffs."

The lineups for Game 3 between the Giants and Diamondbacks are as follows:

San Francisco Giants

1. Angel Pagan (S) CF
2. Marco Scutaro (R) 2B
3. Pablo Sandoval (S) 3B
4. Buster Posey (R) 1B
5. Hunter Pence (R) RF
6. Brandon Belt (L) LF
7. Hector Sanchez (S) C
8. Joaquin Arias (R) SS
9. Barry Zito (L) P

Arizona Diamondbacks
1. A.J. Pollock (R) CF
2. Aaron Hill (R) 2B
3. Justin Upton (R) RF
4. Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B
5. Miguel Montero (L) C
6. Jason Kubel (L) LF
7. Cody Ransom (R) 3B
8. Jake Elmore (R) SS
9. Patrick Corbin (L) P

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