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CIN@SF: Vogelsong fans five in seven strong frames

On Saturday, both the Giants' Ryan Vogelsong and the Pirates' James McDonald will take the mound with something to prove and perhaps a chip on their shoulder.

After stellar first halves, neither will be heading to Kansas City despite posting stronger numbers than some other pitchers named to the National League All-Star team. The two will square off in the second game of the series after the Giants' 6-5 win to open the series Friday.

And in Vogelsong's case, he said he "absolutely" has something to prove and a chip on his shoulder to match. After a seven-inning, two-run outing last time out, he has a 7-3 record with a 2.26 ERA along with 12 straight quality starts and seven straight outings of at least seven innings.

"People don't take me seriously," Vogelsong said after last Sunday's All-Star roster announcements. "I've been pitching with a chip on my shoulder since I got here last year. I've still got something to prove. I'll probably pitch with that chip the rest of my career."

And his counterpart McDonald is a good candidate to sympathize. McDonald enters Saturday's game with an 8-3 record and a 2.45 ERA, along with a 1.00 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched) and 90 strikeouts in 103 innings.

In his last start, McDonald held the Astros to two runs in seven innings despite an early lack of control that led to four unintentional walks.

"I was happy with the way I recovered," McDonald said after the Pirates' 11-2 win on July 2. "I think that's a big difference between last year and this year. I would have let things start to spiral. I think this year I'm better at recovering and picking myself back up and getting back into it."

And Pirates manager Clint Hurdle will be hoping the offense sparks McDonald as it did in his last outing, when Hurdle felt a four-run fourth inning helped McDonald settle down and execute his pitches.

"From that point on ... the downhill angle, the finish to the fastball, breaking ball early and late ... the package came together," Hurdle said.

Giants: Casilla dealing with blister problems
Giants closer Santiago Casilla was unavailable to pitch during Friday's series opener with a blister on his middle finger.

On Thursday, Casilla blew a save against the Nationals, giving up a double and a single as well as committing a fielding error in the Nationals' 6-5 walk-off comeback win.

"It wasn't like he was hit hard," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's gong to happen. These guys aren't going to be perfect. He's been really solid."

• Justin Christian had another solid game Friday as he earned back-to-back starts in right field after impressing Bochy on Thursday with a 3-for-5 game including a double and three runs scored against the Nationals. On Friday, the 32-year-old reserve outfielder reached base three times and scored a run.

"The way he played, he kind of forces that issue," Bochy said before Friday's game.

Pirates: Leroux, Slaten optioned to Indianapolis
The Pirates optioned right-hander Chris Leroux and left-hander Doug Slaten to Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday after both players cleared waivers.

Leroux had been on the disabled list since the start of the year with a strained pectoral muscle he sustained during Spring Training. Slaten pitched 13 innings out of the bullpen with a 2.77 ERA.

• Left-hander Daniel Moskos was claimed on waivers by the Chicago White Sox on Friday. The Pirates had designated Moskos for assignment on June 26 to make room for Drew Sutton.

Worth noting
• Vogelsong, a former Pirate, is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in three career games against Pittsburgh. Earlier this year, he threw 6 1/3 innings, giving up two earned runs and striking out seven in a losing effort.

• After Friday's win, the Giants have won 14 of their last 20 against the Pirates.

• Pirates first baseman Casey McGehee's sixth homer of the season Friday was his first at PNC Park.

• With 37,565 in the house Friday night, the Pirates lost for only the fourth time in front of 12 home crowds of 30,000-plus.

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