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After a miserable start to 2008, the San Francisco Giants finally found success at home.
The Giants hope to build on their first win at AT&T Park when they wrap up their three-game series against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Oddsmakers from Sportsbook.com have made San Diego -127 money line favorites (MLB Odds) for tonight’s game, the over/under has been set at 8.5 total runs (Matchup). Current public betting information shows that 64% of bets for this game have been placed on San Diego –127 (View MLB Bet Percentages).
San Francisco (2-6) went 1-5 on a season-opening four-game road trip, then dropped their home opener 8-4 to the Padres (5-4) on Monday for their fourth consecutive loss overall.
The Giants ended that skid Tuesday night when catcher Bengie Molina hit his second home run of the game in the 11th inning off San Diego reliever Cla Meredith for a 2-1 victory.
Molina’s heroics were made possible by his batterymate – reliever Brad Hennessey, who gave up two hits in two scoreless innings.
"Brad saved us," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "We were down to one pitcher and one player. Bengie, he’s so clutch. He’s the guy you want up there when you need a big hit."
Molina, who has 54 game-winning RBIs in his 11-year career, has three of the Giants’ four homers this season and seven of their 17 RBIs. The veteran catcher drove in a career-high 81 runs in 2007, and matched his personal best with 19 homers.
The Giants will look to Jonathan Sanchez (0-1, 15.75 ERA) to rebound from a rocky season debut when he takes the mound Wednesday.
The left-hander, who was making his ninth career start Friday at Milwaukee, yielded seven runs and seven hits in four innings of a 13-4 loss. He did strike out a career-high eight batters, though, showing enough to impress his manager.
"That kid’s got great stuff. He showed it (Friday)," Bochy told the Giants’ official Web site. "What he needs to improve on is staying out of the big inning. Experience helps. He needs to keep his composure with men on base and limit the damage."
Sanchez has no record and a 3.12 ERA in seven relief appearances against the Padres.
The Giants, who went 4-14 versus San Diego in 2007, are looking for their first series win over the Padres since Sept. 8-10, 2006, at AT&T Park.
The Padres hope Justin Germano (0-0, 0.00) can get them back on track.
The right-hander pitched well at home against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, limiting them to one unearned run and three hits in six innings, but didn’t factor in the decision of a 7-1 defeat.
Germano also has not received a decision in three career appearances – two starts – against the Giants despite a 2.84 ERA.
Padres catcher Michael Barrett was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday with a strained ligament in his right elbow. Barrett, who was hitting .250 with three runs and two walks in three games this season, was hurt during the Padres’ 8-4 victory over the Giants on Monday night.
Josh Bard took his place in the lineup Tuesday and went 0-for-2 with two walks and a strikeout.
Here are some top trends for today’s matchup:
-SAN FRANCISCO is 73-97 (-24.7 Units) against the money line in all games over the last 2 seasons.
-SAN DIEGO is 68-53 (+17.9 Units) against the money line in road games against right-handed starters over the last 3 seasons.
by: Dave Michaels – thespread.com – Email Us
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