This will be his first start against the Giants since 2005, when pitching for St. Louis. He is 6-4 with a 2.53 ERA in 12 games - 11 starts - lifetime against San Francisco.

The Giants counter with Russ Ortiz (2-2, 5.40), who makes his first start in more than three months against one of his favorite opponents.

Ortiz opened the season as the No. 5 starter in the rotation, but after going 2-2 with a 6.44 ERA in five starts, he was moved to the bullpen following his May 1st outing. He found success as a reliever, throwing 5 2-3 scoreless innings in four appearances, but battled arm problems. The right-hander was placed on the disabled list on June 7 with a strained right forearm.

Ortiz made four rehab appearances with Triple-A Fresno, and in his last start on Saturday, he allowed five runs in five innings of 5-4 loss.

Ortiz recorded his first win of the season over the Pirates after giving up five runs and 10 hits in 8 2-3 innings of an 8-5 victory on April 13. He's 8-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 13 games - 12 starts - lifetime against Pittsburgh.

Unlike Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds, there's no friction between Manny Mota and Mark Sweeney.

Of course, the stakes are quite a bit less in the latter regard. Nevertheless, there is an association.

This year, Bonds surpassed Aaron as the all-time homers king and Sweeney surpassed Mota, the one-time pinch-hit king who had lost his title to Lenny Harris.

Sweeney is joining Mota now. In the first Giants-Dodgers trade since 1985, when the Giants shipped Alex Trevino to Los Angeles for Candy Maldonado, Sweeney moved to the Dodgers for a player to be named or cash.

Sweeney, 37, ranks No. 2 all time with 155 pinch hits and first in 2007 with 16. He's hitting .327 (16-for-49) in the pinch.

Here's how much the Giants have fallen: GM Brian Sabean said, "We're not a good enough team to have a guy like Mark on it, a premium pinch hitter."

Sweeney signed a two-year contract before the 2006 season, taking J.T. Snow's roster spot after Snow was let go. In the offseason, Sweeney was linked to a published report in which Barry Bonds was said to have tested positive for amphetamines and explained that he received them from Sweeney.

Both sides downplayed it after the story broke.

Sweeney, a stand-up guy who often spoke about Bonds when Bonds refused interviews, called the trade to a contender a "better opportunity."

NATIONALS 3, GIANTS 1: Pat Misch started for the Giants and gave up a two-run homer to Felipe Lopez in the fifth inning. That ended the scoring. The Giants failed to take advantage of baserunners in both the eighth and ninth innings. Omar Vizquel hit a two-out double in the ninth, but Randy Winn was retired for the final out.

--LF Barry Bonds was out of the lineup for the first time since breaking Henry Aaron's homers record. He hit No. 756 Tuesday and 757 Wednesday, then rested Thursday. He pinch-hit in the eighth inning but popped out, stranding runners at the corners. Bonds is 0-for-5 as a pinch hitter this year.

--OF Rajai Davis stole two bases, scored the Giants' only run and had three hits Thursday, though just one was solidly hit. The others were a bloop single and bunt. Still, it was his first career three-hit game. Davis became the 10th Giant to start in left field.

--OF Dan Ortmeier was recalled from Class AAA Fresno to replace 1B Mark Sweeney, who was traded to the Dodgers on Thursday. Ortmeier was hitting .262 with 10 homers and 54 RBIs in Class AAA.

--CF Dave Roberts sustained a bruised right knee Thursday in a collision with Washington C Jesus Flores. Roberts rammed into Flores' shin guard. Roberts was sent for X-rays (they were negative) and an MRI exam (waiting on results) and possibly could return to the disabled list.

--RHP Russ Ortiz will come off the disabled list to start Friday's game. The opposing pitcher is ex-Giant RHP Matt Morris, who was dealt to Pittsburgh last month. Ortiz will take the rotation spot of LHP Noah Lowry, who's missing time with a strained forearm.

BY THE NUMBERS: 24 -- Consecutive sellouts for Giants games, home and away, through Aug. 3. Of course, Barry Bonds' pursuit of Henry Aaron's homers record had a lot to do with the streak.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "They're still walking him at 43, and that's pretty amazing." -- Manager Bruce Bochy, on Barry Bonds.

MEDICAL WATCH:
CF Dave Roberts (bruised right knee) left the Aug. 9 game. He was awaiting the results of an MRI exam.

SS Omar Vizquel (left knee bruise) was scratched from the lineup Aug. 7, but he returned Aug. 8.

LHP Noah Lowry (forearm tightness) left the Aug. 5 game and is expected to miss at least one start. An MRI showed no significant damage, and he might return to action Aug. 13.

RHP Russ Ortiz (strained right forearm) went on the disabled list retroactive to June 5. He began a rehab assignment with Class AAA Fresno on July 17. He made a rehab start with Class A San Jose on July 28 and a start for Fresno on Aug. 4. He will be activated to start the Aug. 10 game.

1B Rich Aurilia (sore right hamstring) went on the disabled list retroactive to Aug. 2.