Matt

Cain

Cain is 9-5 with a 4.50 ERA, 109 H and 160/70 K/BB in 134 IP for Fresno. He should need to finish strong at Fresno in order to make his major league debut in September.

''Our inclination is to bring him up in September,’' manager Felipe Alou said. But there are concerns about the number of innings he’s pitched, as he’s currently at 128. ''If the kid has thrown too many pitches, it’s better to shut him down the rest of the year,’' Alou said of Cain, who’s 9-5 4.64 ERA in 23 starts for Fresno.

Cain, who reached double figures in strikeouts for the third time this season, evened his record at 8-8 with his second victory in eight starts. The Giants have scored a total of 19 runs in his eight losses.

Cain had allowed two or fewer runs in four of his five starts since the All-Star break. It’s possible that he is beginning to wear down some because of the frequent 110-pitch outings, but he’s still fine to use in mixed leagues at the moment.

This is the type of outing we expected to see rather frequently from Cain. The 21-year-old gave up just two hits, but he walked five and needed 108 pitches to get 17 outs. Cain will face the Mets in New York next. It should be fine to use him.

Cain walked three and hit a batter with the bases loaded in an ugly first inning. The third run came in the second. He ended up pitching scoreless third and fourth innings, but he put two men on in each frame and was up to 91 pitches when he was removed. While Cain is 3-0 over his last four starts, he’s going to have to be more consistent with his command to be of much use in mixed leagues.

The only problem was that he threw 131 pitches. Cain was left in to finish the inning even after Chone Figgins singled with two outs in the eighth. Armando Benitez came on to pitch the ninth and got the save in a 2-1 game. All three runs scored in the first. Chone Figgins walked to lead off the game and then raced around the bases after Eliezer Alfonso’s throw to second on a steal attempt went into center field. It was one of four walks issued by Cain, who ended up striking out 10. The 131 pitches is the most he’s ever thrown. The only other time he’s been above 110 was in his one-hitter against the A’s on May 21, a game in which he threw 120 pitches. With Thursday off, the Giants may decide to give Cain an extra day or two off before his next start.

Cain walked three and struck out five while needing 120 pitches, 80 of which were strikes, to throw nine innings. Cain had his last turn in the rotation skipped to work out some kinks with pitching coach Dave Righetti, and they apparently worked. Cain was in danger of getting demoted if he kept pitching poorly, but today’s outing should buy him some time if he has another poor start or two. He’ll get the Rockies at AT&T Park later this week, so he should be active in all formats.

Cain gave up just one hit before being pulled after 104 pitches. It looked like he and Kevin Correia would combine on a shutout of San Diego, but Correia fatigued in the ninth and Jack Taschner gave up a grand slam to Josh Barfield before finishing an 8-4 game. Cain is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA and 24 strikeouts in three starts against the Padres this season. The Giants have beaten the Padres nine times in 10 games since July 1.

Mike Stanton blew the Giants’ two-run lead in the eighth, then was credited with the win when the club came back in the bottom of the inning. Cain is 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA and 38 strikeouts in five starts this month.