Posey Returns Home For Braves Series, Giants Hope To Bounce Back

(AP) -- Buster Posey is in the midst of the kind of stretch that can lead to an MVP award. There's little reason to believe the All-Star won't be able to keep it going back home.

The Georgia native looks to continue his lengthy tear at the plate as the San Francisco Giants try to avoid their first back-to-back losses in almost a month Monday night against the Atlanta Braves.

Posey has batted .446 in his 16 games played during the Giants' 14-4 stretch that has helped the defending World Series champions close the gap in the NL West. However, they fell 2 1/2 games back Sunday with a 2-1 loss at Texas and a win by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

San Francisco had been hitting .311 while averaging 5.8 runs in its previous 17 games before Posey had one of the team's four hits and drove in the only run Sunday. The Giants loaded the bases in the ninth inning before Hunter Pence grounded into a game-ending double play.

"We all think we're going to win until the last out is made," Pence said.

Posey, who grew up in Leesburg, Georgia, should be able to help the Giants (57-47) avoid their first back-to-back losses since July 6. In nine games at Turner Field since 2012, Posey is batting .486 with seven doubles and 10 RBIs.

The 2012 NL MVP also hit a first-inning two-run homer off scheduled starter Mike Foltynewicz in a 4-2 home win over the Braves (47-58) on May 29. Foltynewicz allowed two runs while striking out eight over 6 2-3 innings in his only careermeeting with San Francisco.

Posey went just 2 for 11 but Brandon Belt was 5 for 13 with two homers as the Giants split that four-game series. San Francisco won all three meetings at Turner Field last season.

Foltynewicz (3-3, 5.04 ERA) returned to the rotation Wednesday after a brief stint at Triple-A Gwinnett, allowing two runs over six innings in a 2-0 loss at Baltimore.

The right-hander will be opposed by veteran Matt Cain, who will try to keep Atlanta from winning consecutive games for only the second time since July 6 and 7. He's 4-1 with a 1.82 ERA in his last five starts against the Braves, though he's only faced them once since 2011.

Cain (2-2, 4.50) has alternated between shaky and strong outings in five starts since missing the first three months of the season with a flexor tendon strain in his right arm.

The right-hander should be on track for a better performance after giving up four runs and eight hits over six innings in Tuesday's 5-2 home loss to Milwaukee.

After hitting .217 while totaling 16 runs during a 1-9 stretch, Atlanta finished with 11 hits in Sunday's 6-2 win at Philadelphia that snapped a six-game losing streak. Jace Peterson went 3 for 4 with a three-run home run, while Ryan Lavarnway and Eury Perez added two hits apiece.

"It's always nice to get the win before you get on the plane," manager Fredi Gonzalez said.

Peterson, who hit .132 in his prior 11 games, went 7 for 17 with two triples against the Giants in May.

Andrelton Simmons might miss his second straight game due to a sprained right thumb, while San Francisco's Joe Panik could miss his fourth in seven days because of back stiffness.

Updated August 2, 2015