Arizona Diamondbacks Game Preview, #88: Into the Giants' lair.

Patrick Corbin LHP, 4-6, 4.90

Jeff Samardzija RHP, 8-5, 3.97

Jean Segura - 2B	Denard Span - CF
Michael Bourn - CF	Angel Pagan - LF
Paul Goldschmidt - 1B	Brandon Belt - 1B
Jake Lamb - 3B	Buster Posey - C
Welington Castillo - C	Brandon Crawford - SS
Yasmany Tomas - RF	Mac Williamson - RF
Brandon Drury - LF	Grant Green - 2B
Nick Ahmed - SS	Ruben Tejada - 3B
Patrick Corbin - LHP	Jeff Samardzija - RHP

It was probably the high-point of our season so far. Jake Lamb's homer helped secure a 9-7 win in extra innings [I remember "watching" that game on MLB Gameday, while waiting for a shuttle-bus back to our hotel!] The pitching then locked things down the rest of the way, with Robbie Ray, Zack Greinke and Tyler Wagner getting the wins, the D-backs allowing only three runs over the last 30 innings of work in the series. The Diamondbacks were 9-8 after the final game, setting a high-water mark for their winning percentage this season. Ah, how long ago that all seems now...

Since that series, the two teams have gone in radically different directions. The Giants are 47-23 since April 21, the best record in the majors - 6.5 games above the next-best in the NL, the Cubs. However, the D-backs have gone 29-41, a record above only the Braves (25-46) and Reds (24-46). They've outscored their opponents by 64 runs; we've been outscored by 40. That's why they now have the best record in the majors, and we... don't. Indeed, due to the Padres victory, while we had an off-day yesterday, we're now in sole possession of last place in the NL West.

So, no: I don't expect this series to go quite like last time. Winning one game would be about what I'd expect; two could only be considered a major triumph. I completely refuse to consider even the possibility of a sweep, until we have the first two games in the bag. And even then, we'll be on national TV for the series finale, as the D-backs play the Giants in the very last game of the first half, on ESPN Sunday night. And we all know how well Arizona perform in front of a national audience. We'll see, of course, but I'll be tuning in more in hope than in any real expectations of very much. On the plus side: no Shelby Miller start for more than a week!