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Cain goes 6 2/3 for fourth straight win

The Giants gave the Cubs a harsh welcome to AT&T Park Friday night, wasting no time in ending Chicago's first three-game winning streak of the season. Now the Cubs will take the field on Saturday looking to bounce back before one loss becomes many and it spirals out of control again.

The Cubs came into the series opener riding a three-game sweep of the Padres -- which came fresh on the heels of a 12-game losing streak. San Francisco quickly reminded the Cubbies they were no longer facing the team with the Majors' worst record, though, with a 4-3 win.

Now, the Cubs will call on Matt Garza as they continue to search for their first win against a team with a winning record since defeating the Cardinals on May 14. They'll need a much-improved performance from Garza if they plan to notch such a victory, as the right-hander has been knocked around in each of his last two outings.

Garza was tagged for six runs (five earned) over five innings in his last start after allowing seven earned runs in just three innings of work in his prior outing. He also served up five combined homers in those two starts after having allowed just three over his first seven trips to the mound.

"My first job is to keep runs off the board -- and giving a three-spot up in the first doesn't really help anybody," Garza said after his most recent dud. "All it does is build pressure and make guys have to do stuff -- and we get outside of our comfort zone and start doing things we're not used to doing.

"I've got to get right quick and get ready for [San Francisco]."

As for Giants starter Matt Cain, it hasn't seemed to matter much what type of outing he has lately, as the result continues to be the same -- wins. Cain has won four consecutive starts, despite allowing four earned runs in two of the four.

One thing that will play into Cain's favor -- and the Giants' for most of June -- is the fact he's taking the mound in his own ballpark. Cain is 2-1 with a 1.85 ERA in five starts in front of the home fans this season. As for the team, the Giants will leave the state of California just once this month, but manager Bruce Bochy doesn't want his team to get too comfortable on the West Coast.

"It's going to be nice for us. We'll have no excuse now. We should be well rested," Bochy said. "At the same time, the worst thing that we can do is look at that or the team we're playing and drop our guard. All these clubs are good teams, just look at their records."

Cubs: New arm joins the bullpen
One day after being claimed off waivers, right-handed reliever Jairo Asencio is expected to join the Cubs on Saturday.

The 29-year-old posted a 5.96 ERA in 18 games with the Indians this season, giving up 17 earned runs off 27 hits and eight walks over 25 2/3 innings of work. Combined with his time on the Braves in 2009 and '11, Asencio is 1-2 with a 6.05 ERA in 27 career Major League relief appearances.

"It's a good arm from Cleveland who put up some impressive Minor League numbers the last couple years," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.

Asencio was 3-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 47 relief outings with Triple-A Gwinnett last season.

Giants: Romo fully recovered
Though he didn't call on Sergio Romo in Friday's victory, Bochy said prior to the game that the reliever was available out of the bullpen after missing the last three games.

Romo suffered a partial dislocation of his right knee cap while stretching before Monday's game and hasn't pitched since.

"He came out and threw and felt fine," Bochy said before Friday's game. "He was covering first base and doing all the little things that he'll need to be able to do. He's good to go."

The right-hander has allowed just one run over 14 2/3 innings in 18 appearances this season.

Worth noting
• Giants outfielder Angel Pagan set a franchise record Friday by recording a hit in his 25th consecutive home game. The previous record was held by Don Mueller, who hit safely in 24 straight home contests from Sept. 13, 1954-May 5, 1955.

• Since homering in his first career at-bat against Cain in 2006, Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano is 0-for-7 against the right-hander with three strikeouts.

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