Thu May 8 10:32:37 2008

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Bucs go for sweep of Giants in Steel City matinee

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(Sports Network) - Matt Cain looks for a fourth start without a loss when the San Francisco Giants visit Pittsburgh's PNC Park today for the finale of a three-game set with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Cain, a 23-year-old right-hander, has picked up a pair of no decisions and a 4-0 win over Colorado since his last loss, which came April 18 at St.Louis. In those three starts, he's given up 12 hits and three runs in 19 1/3 innings.

Overall, Cain has allowed 33 hits and 18 earned runs in 39 2/3 innings this season while compiling a 1-2 record.

Cain is 0-1 in two lifetime starts against Pittsburgh with a 4.91 earned run average in 11 innings.

For the Pirates, lefty Paul Maholm attempts to get back on the winning side of the ledger when he takes the mound this afternoon.

The 25-year-old Mississippi State product had won consecutive starts from April 22-27 before dropping a 9-8 verdict to Washington on Saturday. In the loss, he was raked for 10 hits and seven runs in five innings.

A 10-game winner in 29 starts last season, Maholm is 1-0 in two career outings against the Giants with a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings.

Pittsburgh will be shooting for a series sweep this afternoon. On Wednesday, Xavier Nady hit a two-run homer and the Pirates defeated Barry Zito and the Giants, 3-1.

Phil Dumatrait (1-1) earned his first major league victory after tossing 5 2/3 scoreless innings and allowing three hits while striking out five and walking one.

Jason Bay added two hits and scored a run for Pittsburgh, which had lost two in a row prior to Tuesday's 12-6 rout of San Francisco.

Zito (0-7) was effective despite taking the loss in his first start since being demoted to bullpen duty, although he didn't make a relief appearance and instead just missed a turn in the rotation.

The high-priced lefty did mix his pitches well with a healthy diet of breaking balls and change-ups. Through five innings, Zito surrendered two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out five.

Randy Winn and Bengie Molina had two hits apiece for the Giants, who have lost three in a row overall and 14 of their last 17 versus Pittsburgh.

San Francisco is also just 2-6 at PNC Park since the start of the 2006 campaign.