Phillies-Giants Preview

5/10/2008 9:19 PM

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA
STATS Senior Writer

The San Francisco Giants and Philadelphia Phillies are much more stable at shortstop now than before starting their three-game series.

After Omar Vizquel's return sparked a strong day at the plate, the Giants on Sunday play the decisive game of their series with a Phillies team playing their third game since NL MVP Jimmy Rollins came off the disabled list.

Returning shortstops have been the story of this series. In the opener, Rollins - a Bay Area native - missed hitting for the cycle by a triple as Philadelphia (21-17) won 7-4 over San Francisco (15-22) on Friday night. It was his first game back in a month after being put on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle, and he sparked one of the Phillies' best days at the plate this season.

On Saturday, Vizquel was activated after being sidelined since undergoing left knee surgery Feb. 27. He went 3-for-5 and provided his usual solid defense as the Giants won 8-2, also holding Rollins hitless in four at-bats.

Batting in the No. 2 spot, Vizquel helped San Francisco fall a run shy of matching a season high, set in a 10-9 loss to Cincinnati on April 26.

"I hope if I can get hits and get on base that I can help get that energy back," Vizquel said. "Overall, no pain so far. ... I think it's going to be OK."

The 41-year-old Vizquel became the first Venezuelan to play 20 seasons in the majors. He is batting .381 (32-for-84) with a home run, five doubles and seven stolen bases in 22 games against the Phillies.

Now, Vizquel and the Giants' lineup will face Philadelphia starter Adam Eaton (0-1, 5.63 ERA), who is coming off his worst start of the season. The right-hander allowed six runs and five hits in four innings as the Phillies lost 6-4 to Arizona on Tuesday night.

Eaton is 1-2 with an 11.57 ERA in his last four outings versus the Giants, and is 3-6 with a 5.34 ERA in 15 career starts against them.

The Giants will counter with Jonathan Sanchez (2-2, 4.74 ERA), who was hit hard in his last start. He gave up seven runs and six hits while walking three in 4 1-3 innings as San Francisco lost 12-6 to Pittsburgh on Tuesday night.

The left-hander had allowed only six earned runs in 29 2-3 innings while going 2-0 in his previous five starts.

This will be Sanchez's first start against the Phillies. He has a 4.76 ERA and did not receive a decision in four relief appearances against them.

Sanchez has struck out Philadelphia slugger Ryan Howard each of the three times he's faced him. The first baseman has been struggling all season, batting .169 with a major league-high 52 strikeouts in 136 at-bats.

Philadelphia second baseman Chase Utley, meanwhile, has slowed down after a hot start, batting .120 (3-for-25) in his last seven contests. He leads the Phillies with 13 home runs.

"Baseball is a frustrating game," Utley told Philadelphia's official Web site. "That's why you try to stay even-keeled through the good and the bad."