Hudson seeks first victory in clash with Angels
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(SportsNetwork.com) - Tim Hudson looks to secure his first victory of the season on Saturday afternoon when the San Francisco Giants play the middle contest of a three-game set with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Hudson is 0-2 through four starts despite a solid 3.91 earned run average. The veteran righty logged seven innings of work last Saturday in Colorado, allowing three runs on eight hits. He did not walk a batter, but did allow a pair of homers in a game his club managed to win 5-4.
Hudson, 39, is 13-7 with a 3.85 ERA in 25 previous meetings with the Angels.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Angels give their starting assignment this afternoon to Hector Santiago, who escaped with a no-decision on Sunday versus Texas despite some control problems.
Santiago limited his damage to a pair of runs, one of those earned, over 5 1/3 innings as he allowed four hits while also walking six and hitting a batter with the bases loaded. He fanned five while getting denied a third straight winning start.
The 27-year-old southpaw is 2-1 with a 2.28 ERA through four starts and will face the Giants for the first time.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Giants took last night's opener 3-2 on Joe Panik's walk-off RBI single. His pinch-hit heroics plated Gregor Blanco as he dumped a belt-high fastball into center field.
"He's a good hitter," said Giants manager Bruce Bochy. "He's a great weapon to have off the bench at that point."
The late win overshadowed another strong outing from rookie starter Chris Heston, who gave the Giants 6 1/3 innings of one-run ball to help the club win for the sixth time in nine games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}C.J. Wilson also allowed one run in seven innings for the Angels, who had won two straight and five of seven. They played a second game in a row without slugger Albert Pujols, who is day-to-day with a hamstring injury.
The Angels have won six of their past eight versus the Giants, a span that includes a three-game sweep in San Francisco from June 15-17, 2009. They also beat the Giants in seven games to win the 2002 World Series.