The San Francisco Giants will be seeking their first winning streak of the season when they go for two in a row against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday night.
Two winless pitchers will try to extend the other’s misery when Rockies right-hander Chad Bettis (0-2, 11.88 ERA) opposes Giants lefty Drew Pomeranz (0-1, 4.00).
Pomeranz will be trying to follow in the footsteps of teammate Jeff Samardzija, who turned back the clock with seven innings of three-hit ball in a 1-0 win in the series opener Thursday.
Samardzija, a former 12-game winner, made just 10 starts in an injury-plagued 2018 season, winning just once.
Pomeranz had similar physical difficulties last year, getting just 11 starts for the Boston Red Sox and winning just twice.
He won 17 games the year before.
Giants manager Bruce Bochy noted after the Thursday win that the message is the same for all his rebounding veteran pitchers this season: Trust your bullpen.
“I’ve told these guys: With our bullpen, we can lessen their workload,” the veteran skipper said. “We all get older.”
Rockies manager Bud Black, who followed Bochy as manager of the San Diego Padres in 2007, admitted before the Thursday contest that the series isn’t just Rockies hitters vs. Giants pitchers, and vice versa.
He recognizes he’s up against one of the game’s best when it comes to managing a bullpen.
“There’s no better in-game strategist than Bruce,” Black said.
Bochy has announced this will be his final season as a big-league manager.
“I’m going to miss him,” Black continued. “I think the game’s going to miss him. I’ve not wanted to say that, because I don’t want to believe it’s happening. Because I like him on the other side.
“He’s good for the game. He’s a throwback. He’s good with people, he’s great with players, he’s got a great baseball mind and he’s a great conversationalist. I’m a Bochy fan — except for the 19 times (each season) we play them.”
Even though his starter had thrown just 90 pitches and allowed only one baserunner to reach second base, Bochy pulled Samardzija in the series opener after seven innings.
The strategy worked. Relievers Tony Watson and Will Smith retired all six batters they faced in the final two innings to complete the shutout win.
Pomeranz has never lost to the Rockies, going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA in four meetings, including two starts. He’s struck out 18 in 14 innings in those games, allowing seven hits, all singles.
Bettis is 3-4 with a 4.59 ERA in 15 career head-to-heads against San Francisco, 10 of which have come as a starter.
He has struggled in his career against Giants third baseman Evan Longoria, who has gone 3-for-6 with two doubles and a triple against the righty.
Both starters have faced Tampa Bay and Los Angeles Dodgers in their two outings this season. Again, advantage Pomeranz.
While winless, the San Francisco lefty has limited the Rays and Dodgers to a total of four runs in nine innings. Bettis, on the other hand, has been roughed up for 12 runs (11 earned) in 8 1/3 innings.
