If you're looking for players to watch in the series opener between the Giants and Padres at PETCO Park on Monday night, look no further than San Francisco starter Matt Cain and San Diego outfielder Scott Hairston. Click here to get links
Cain, one of the better pitchers in the National League last year, is not only seeking his first win of 2010, but he has pitched more games against San Diego, 18, than any other club except Colorado (also 18).
And while Cain is only 4-6 against the Padres and 1-4 at PETCO Park, he's put up a stellar 2.91 ERA against San Diego, which includes a 2.87 at PETCO Park. Last year, Cain was 1-1 with a 2.84 ERA in three starts against the Padres.
In his last outing, Cain gave up three runs in the first five innings against Pittsburgh, but he finished strongly, retiring the final 10 batters he faced.
"I put the guys in a hole in the first three innings," Cain said, "and they did a great job of battling back to get it tied up." Unfortunately for the Giants, the Pirates eventually won the game, and Cain was left with his second straight no-decision to start the year.
On the Padres' side of the field, one player Cain will have to look out for is Hairston, who has torched Giants pitching throughout his career.
Hairston, who came back to the Padres for his second tenure with the club after playing for Oakland for much of 2009, is a career .271 hitter with 11 home runs against the Giants in 166 at-bats. He's hit more home runs against the Giants than any other team (Colorado is next with eight). In 2007 alone, he hit seven of them against the Giants in 50 at-bats.
Hairston also is enjoying the San Diego experience this year, playing alongside his older brother, Jerry Hairston Jr., for the first time in his career.
"It's nice being around him on an everyday basis," Scott Hairston said, "doing what we both love to do."
You can watch the action today on your pc with special software here: San Francisco Giants Vs San Diego Padres
