Dustin McGowan: McGowan turned in his third consecutive strong performance on Friday, limiting the Dodgers to two runs on four hits over seven innings in a no-decision. The right-hander struck out four and walked none in the outing, in which his lone mistake came on an errant changeup that was belted for a two-run home run by Los Angeles outfielder Luis Gonzalez in the seventh inning. McGowan, who has lasted at least seven innings in his last three trips to the mound, has posted a 2.91 ERA in his last trio of starts for Toronto. Over that span, he's also tallied 16 strikeouts versus just four walks.
Tim Linecum: Lincecum still hasn't been tagged with his first Major League loss, but he came close in his previous start against the A's. He threw two perfect innings to open the game followed by a long third that featured three walks and two runs. Lincecum's pitch count climbed to 92 as he struggled through the fifth and gave up another run. He exited the game after 4 1/3 innings having allowed three earned runs on four hits and five walks.
1. Clark 1B
2. Rios CF
3. Stairs RF
4. Glaus 3B
5. Hill 2B
6. Lind LF
7. Clayton SS
8. Phillips C
9. McGowan P
1. Roberts, CF
2. Schierholtz, RF
3. Winn, LF
4. Klesko, 1B
5. Durham, 2B
6. Feliz, 3B
7. Frandsen, SS
8. Rodriguez, G, C
9. Limecum, P
The San Francisco Giants look for a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday afternoon when the teams close out their interleague series at AT&T Park.
The Giants (30-34) began the week having lost 12 of 16, but they have taken the first two games from Toronto (30-34) by one-run margins -- 4-3 on Monday and 3-2 on Tuesday -- to clinch their first series win since sweeping a three-game set against the Houston Astros from May 21-23.
Although he failed to homer Tuesday, Barry Bonds went 2-for-2 with a double and two walks. Ryan Klesko drove in two runs and scored another for San Francisco, which had dropped six consecutive home games prior to this series.
The Giants remain in last place in the NL West, but improved to 16-16 at AT&T Park.
"It's nice. We were talking about how we've got to find ways to win those (close) ballgames, instead of finding ways to lose," Klesko said.
Bonds is expected to get this day game after a night game off. After homering Monday, he has 747 career home runs -- eight shy of Hank Aaron's all-time record.
The Giants will hand the ball to rookie Tim Lincecum (2-0, 4.26 ERA) to try and complete the sweep.
After winning two of his first four major league starts, Lincecum has failed to record a decision in his last three outings -- all San Francisco losses.
The right-hander, who turns 23 on Friday, lasted just 4 1-3 innings last Friday and allowed three runs and four hits while walking five in a 10-inning, 5-3 loss to the Oakland Athletics.
Lincecum will be throwing to fellow rookie Guillermo Rodriguez, who will get the start with regular catcher Bengie Molina taking a day to rest. Rodriguez, a 29-year-old Venezuelan who has spent nearly 12 seasons in the minors but never appeared in a major league game, was called up after Eliezer Alfonzo was injured on Friday.
Toronto's starters have struggled in this series. On Monday, Josh Towers lasted just four innings after allowing three earned runs. A.J. Burnett left with a shoulder strain in the bottom of the fifth inning of Tuesday's defeat.
Burnett had allowed three runs -- two earned -- and six hits, and that was all the Giants needed as Toronto lost for the fifth time in seven games.
The Blue Jays will turn to Dustin McGowan (2-2, 5.02) as they hope for a quality outing. The 25-year-old right-hander provided one Friday against the Los Angeles Dodgers, when he allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings of a 10-inning, 4-3 defeat.
"Dustin's a young, inexperienced kid with a dynamite arm, and he's just coming into his own as a pitcher," Toronto manager John Gibbons said of McGowan, who retired 16 consecutive batters at one point. "He's got everything he needs. His big thing is confidence, knowing he can throw his stuff over the plate and get outs."
McGowan has never faced the Giants.
