— The San Francisco Giants have won five straight games for the first time this season, and all five starting pitcher had a hand in the success with strong outings when their turn came up in the rotation.
Jake Peavy and Matt Cain, who have struggled much of the season, followed up Madison Bumgarner, Johnny Cueto and Jeff Samardzija with strong outings and the result was five wins on the heels of a three-game losing streak. Cain allowed one run over seven innings in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Arizona and topped 100 pitches for the third straight start.
“Matt’s confidence is growing,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “His stuff has been fine, his bullpens have been great. Then in the games, things weren’t going well. Now I think he realizes, ‘Hey, I’m fine. I’m healthy.’ ”
After allowing just six runs in a four-game sweep of the Diamondbacks, the Giants go into San Diego and face the Padres with a head of steam and a staff pitching up to expectations from top to bottom.
“It was an incredible job by our pitching (in Arizona) against a tough lineup,” Bochy said. “We don’t have to just rely on the three guys who have been throwing the ball well, now have confidence when any of them take the ball now that these two have gained so much traction. It sends a sense of confidence throughout the club. Every game, we have a chance to win if we can score some runs.