http://0rz.tw/3XY7b Second-year phenoms renew rivalry Heyward, Posey to meet again in San Francisco By John Schlegel / MLB.com | 4/20/2011 8:00 PM ET Their rookie seasons are a thing of the past, but 2010 always will be remembered for its National League tandem of first-year phenoms: Jason Heyward of Atlanta and Buster Posey of San Francisco. When the Braves and Giants meet for a three-game set at AT&T Park starting on Friday, those two are now second-year veterans on teams that are taking their first hopeful steps toward the place they last met -- the postseason. The mound matchup in the opener will feature another pair of young stars, with 24-year-old right-hander Tommy Hanson going for the Braves against 21-year-old left-hander Madison Bumgarner. For last year's rookie stars -- Posey won by a nose over Heyward for NL Rookie of the Year honors -- the 2011 season is a whole different ballgame. Posey wasn't even up in the Majors a year ago, and Heyward was a couple of weeks past a three-run homer in his debut. Both came into 2011 as key regulars on contending teams. Posey has maintained his cleanup role for the Giants, batting there in all 17 of his starts. He has delivered three homers and 12 RBIs thus far, continuing to quarterback the vaunted Giants pitching staff. The hits haven't come as frequently early on for Heyward as they did last year, but he remains a powerful presence in the Braves' lineup -- six of his first 12 hits were for extra bases. Heyward has seen time in the No. 2 spot in the order recently, and has batted in the sixth spot 13 times and the fifth spot twice heading into Wednesday's game. "As long as I am in the lineup, it doesn't matter," Heyward said. "Whatever makes us go, I am happy there and try not to overthink it too much." Braves: Hanson looking to sharpen Hanson is coming off a tough-luck loss in his last outing against the Mets, striking out nine in five innings of work in which he threw 97 pitches. He had seven of those strikeouts through the first three innings. "I missed my spot a couple times," Hanson said after the 3-2 loss to the Mets. "Really, looking back, there was only a pitch or two I would take back. It took me all of the first inning to get locked in and make some pitches. I felt really good today as a whole. I just didn't get the results I wanted." Giants: Club hopes for quick Sandoval return Pablo Sandoval was a late scratch from Wednesday's series finale in Colorado when he felt pain in his right triceps. Off to a strong start after a disappointing 2010 season, batting .328 while hitting in 14 of 17 games, Sandoval will be re-evaluated upon the team's return home to San Francisco. Mark DeRosa took the start at third base in Sandoval's place on Wednesday, going 0-for-2 before being replaced by Mike Fontenot on a double-switch in the seventh inning. The Giants' infield depth was scaled back by one body when first baseman Brandon Belt was sent down to Triple-A Fresno to make room for outfielder Cody Ross' return. Worth noting The Giants got the best of the Braves in the 2010 National League Division Series in four games. But the Braves got the best of the 2010 regular-season series, 4-3. --

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