Series preview: Giants vs. Braves

April 22, 2011
GIANTS PAGEGIANTS VIDEOMLB STANDINGSMLB SCOREBOARD
Giants (10-8) vs. Braves (8-12)

Series schedule
Friday, 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, 1:10 p.m.
Sunday, 1:05 p.m.

Starting Pitchers
Friday: Madison Bumgarner (0-2, 7.36) vs. Tommy Hanson (1-3, 3.86)
Saturday: Tim Lincecum (2-1, 1.67) vs. Tim Hudson (2-2, 4.05)
Sunday: Jonathan Sanchez (2-1, 3.13) vs. Brandon Beachy (1-1, 3.86)

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Previous games
The Giants won their first two games vs. Colorado before dropping the finale, 10-2, on Wednesday. Matt Cain was reached for six runs in 4 23 innings, while Dan Runzler and Guillermo Mota each allowed a pair of runs in relief.

The Braves lost three of four games against the Dodgers this week, including a 5-3 loss in Thursday's finale. Atlanta's David Ross tied it with a two-run single in the ninth before Matt Kemp won it for L.A. with a two-run homer in the 12th.
Head-to-head
The Giants went 3-4 against the Braves last season before eliminating Atlanta in four games in the National League Division Series. This is the first meeting between the teams in 2011.

Whos hot?
Buster Posey is riding a six-game hitting streak with two homers and seven RBIs during that run. Freddy Sanchez also has a six-game hitting streak, a stretch that includes five games with more than one hit. For Atlanta, Freddie Freeman has four hits, including a pair of homers, and three walks in his last three games.

Storylines
For starters, any playoff rematch is always an interesting storyline. ... Posey went 6-for-16 in the NLDS to help the Giants advance last fall. ... Lincecum's last start against the Braves was his dominant two-hitter with 14 strikeouts in Game 1 of the NLDS. ... Jonathan Sanchez is averaging 11 strikeouts per nine innings, while several Braves - notably Dan Uggla and Alex Gonzalez - are prone to the strikeout.