 07/08/2004 3:13 AM ET
Hermanson gets start vs. D-Backs
Arizona (30-55) at San Francisco (46-39), 7:15 p.m. PT
The Giants ended their four-game skid with a win over Colorado on Wednesday. Their Thursday opponent wasn't so lucky, as the struggling Diamondbacks come to San Francisco after being swept in Los Angeles.
Dustin Hermanson starts for the Giants. He is coming off a career-best 11-strikeout game -- one in which he picked up a no-decision when the bullpen blew the save. Hermanson has received nine no-decisions in 14 starts this season.
For Arizona, Elmer Dessens gets the opening assignment, his first since May 11. Working out of the bullpen for the past two months, Dessens lowered his ERA from 7.56 to 5.09 to earn another crack at starting.
The Giants rode a three-run performance by Barry Bonds -- who also launched his 681st career homer -- and a three-RBI game by Pedro Feliz to propel Kirk Rueter (5-6) to a win over the Rockies, 8-4, on Wednesday. The win averted what would have been the first sweep in Rockies history in San Francisco and the Giants' longest losing streak of the season.
Pitching matchup
SF: RHP Dustin Hermanson
3-2, 4.11 ERA in 2004
0-0, 3.86 ERA in 2004 vs. ARI
5-1, 4.14 ERA lifetime vs. ARI
ARI: RHP Elmer Dessens
1-5, 5.09 ERA in 2004
0-0, 13.50 ERA in 2004 vs. SF
0-3, 7.82 ERA lifetime vs. SF
Players to watch
A.J. Pierzynski is a perfect 6-for-6 with five RBIs against Dessens. ... Luis Gonzalez is 9-for-21 (.429) against Hermanson with three doubles and three round-trippers.
Quotable
"I have a problem, I always have, with the bases on balls late in the game. They lead to catastrophe, they always do." -- Giants manager Felipe Alou on one of the reasons for the bullpen's recent struggles
On the Internet
 MLB.TV
 Gameday Audio
Gameday
Official game notes
On television
SF: KTVU
ARI: FSN
On radio
SF: KNBR 680 AM
ARI: KTAR 620 AM, KSUN 1400 AM (Español)
Quick hits
With a homer and a single Wednesday, Bonds tied Eddie Murray for the eighth-most total bases (5,397) in Major League history. ... Rueter's win Wednesday leaves him one short of 100 victories in his career as a Giant. ... Batting leadoff Wednesday, Michael Tucker went 2-for-4 with an RBI. He has scored 22 runs in 22 games in the leadoff spot with 16 RBIs and a .329 average.
On deck
Friday: vs. Arizona, 7:15 p.m. PT
Saturday: vs. Arizona, 7:15 p.m. PT
Sunday: vs. Arizona, 1:05 p.m. PT
Mark Thoma is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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