07/14 Padres Preview: Game 96 vs. San Francisco

It's hard to imagine things can get any worse for the Padres, especially after these last two games. So hopefully they can salvage the final game of the series tonight and end the first "half" of the season with a win before the All Star Break.

Eric Stults will get the ball for San Diego in the series finale. The southpaw is coming off his second complete game of the season and the Padres' sole win in their last 15 tries. He is an even 5-5 in his last 13 starts overall and 0-1 with a 6.23 ERA in three career starts against the Giants. But Stults has excelled at Petco Park this season, going 7-1 in his last nine home starts.

San Francisco will send Barry Zito to the mound to try to follow up Lincecum's no-hit performance with a gem of his own. But Zito has struggled on the road lately, losing five of his last seven away starts with a 9.38 ERA. He is looking for his first victory overall since May 30th.

Last night's loss was the fifth straight to the Giants. That hadn't happened since a six-game streak in 2006. During that streak the Giants also completed a four-game sweep at Petco Park. Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself today.