 gave up a leadoff homer to Brandon Belt in the second inning, but allowed only one other runner to advance to second. Foltynewicz, 24, has had other recent strong starts, including eight scoreless innings in a 5-0 win at Kansas City on May 14. His start on Monday may have been his most impressive demonstration of altering the speeds of his fastball while mixing in a curveball and slider.'' Probably the best total package I've seen out of him,'' Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. Foltynewicz showed he doesn't have to throw his fastball at full velocity.'' It's nice to know I don't have to throw 97 all the time,'' he said. The Giants rallied against Braves closer Arodys Vizcaino in the ninth. Brandon Crawford's run-scoring single was the Giants' third straight hit off Vizcaino. The closer struck out Jarrett Parker before second baseman Kelly Johnson bobbled pinch-hitter Buster Posey's grounder, allowing another run to score. Kolby Tomlinson's grounder to third base ended the game. The Giants suffered only their third loss in their past 15 road games. Overall, it was San Francisco's third loss in 18 games. Samardzija (7-3) was looking for his fourth straight win as a starter for the first time in his career. The right-hander allowed five runs, four earned, and six hits and two walks in five innings - his shortest start of the season. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said some calls on pitches went against Samardzija.'' I was getting frustrated,'' Bochy said. ''Some of those pitches looked pretty good.'' Samardzija said the start was ''just kind of puzzling.'' Samardzija and the Giants paid for a decision to issue an intentional walk to A. J. Pierzynski, loading the bases with one out in the second. Samardzija struck out Foltynewicz, the No. 8 hitter, before Smith's triple to the left-center gap. It was Smith's third triple, and he ranks second on the team with 18 RBIs. WELCOME TO THE MAJORSGiants right-hander Chris Stratton, called up from Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday when Matt Cain was placed on the disabled list with a right hamstring strain, made his debut with a perfect eighth inning with two strikeouts. NEW/OLD OPTION AT SHORTSTOPGordon Beckham made his first start at shortstop since July 9, 2015, with the White Sox. He has started 11 games at second base and 10 games at third base this season. Shortstop was his original position, including as a standout at the University of Georgia.'' I always like going back over there,'' Beckham said. ''It's fun being the captain of the defense for a day.'' TRAINER'S ROOMGiants: X-rays on 3B Matt Duffy's left hand were negative after he was hit by a pitch in the sixth. He completed the inning before being replaced by Kolby Tomlinson. ... RHP Sergio Romo (strained flexor) could rejoin the team within a week. He has allowed one run with six strikeouts in three innings in his rehab stint with Triple-A Sacramento. UP NEXTGiants: RHP Jake Peavy will try to improve his 7.26 ERA by continuing his recent upswing when he faces the Braves on Tuesday night. Peavy has allowed only one earned run in two of his past three starts. The other start in that span was an ugly loss to the Cubs in which he lasted only 1 2/3 innings and allowed five runs. Braves: RHP Matt Wisler (2-4, 3.08) will make his first start against the Giants. Wisler is 0-3 with a 4.18 ERA in five home starts and is 2-1 with a 1.86 ERA away from Turner Field.
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Time: 01:10 P.M. EST Venue: Turner Field
While the pitching staff played a key role in starting an impressive surge, the San Francisco Giants' offense has picked up recently. They could put it all together when Jeff Samardzija chases his fourth straight victory and tries to lead the visiting Giants to their 16th win in 18 games Monday against the MLB-worst Atlanta Braves. San Francisco starters posted a 1.53 ERA to make up for a lineup that averaged just 3.4 runs over the first 15 games during this stretch. That changed in the last two games at Coors Field as the Giants totaled 18 runs and 33 hits to take two of three in the series. Denard Span, Buster Posey, Hunter Pence and Gregor Blanco each had three hits in a season high-tying 17-hit attack in Sunday's 8-3 victory. Posey went 5 for 9 with two home runs, a double and six RBIs in the last two games, while Pence was 5 for 10 with three doubles and three RBIs and Blanco has gone 10 for 21 with three RBIs in his last five. San Francisco (32-20) hopes to continue its high-scoring ways with Samardzija (7-2, 2.54 ERA) on the hill. The right-hander has a chance to match Sunday's winner Johnny Cueto for the team lead in victories. The team's loaded rotation also includes left-handed ace Madison Bumgarner, who has a 6-2 record to go along with a 2.12 ERA." To come here every day and watch each guy pitch has been great," Samardzija told MLB's official website. "To see the success that especially Johnny and Bum have had fuels you to go out and do your part." Samardzija also looks to win four consecutive starts for the first time in his career after he surrendered one run and struck out seven over 6 2/3 innings in Tuesday's 8-2 home win over San Diego. He's been particularly stellar in May, going 4-1 with a 1.41 ERA in five starts. The 31-year-old has gone 2-1 with a 2.10 ERA in four career starts against the Braves (14-35), though he hasn't faced them since 2014. Gordon Beckham is 3 for 10 with a home run off him, but Freddie Freeman has gone 0 for 9 with four strikeouts in this matchup. Atlanta has averaged 3.1 runs and hit .233 while dropping 21 of 25 at Turner Field. The Braves, off to their worst record through 49 games since the 1911 Boston team, only had three hits in Sunday's 7-3 loss to Miami. They'll hope to do better for Mike Foltynewicz (1-2, 3.95) in the opener of this four-game series. He's shown some promise by limiting opponents to two runs or less in three of his last four starts. Foltynewicz overcame four walks Wednesday when he allowed one run and struck out seven over 5 2/3 innings in a 3-2 loss to Milwaukee. After giving up two runs over 6 2/3 innings in a 4-2 loss at San Francisco on May 29, 2015, he surrendered six runs and nine hits - including four homers - over six innings in a 9-8 home win in August. Brandon Crawford should be happy to see him after hitting a pair of home runs in that contest, while Posey and Brandon Belt also went deep. The Giants have won five of the last six meetings at Turner Field.
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