By Jeremy Harness

The Giants had a day off Thursday, which means one thing: they didn’t lose a game that particular day. That isn’t something that they’ve been able to claim for quite a while.

Hey, they say there’s a silver lining to everything, right?

OK, we may be going a little overboard here, but if you’re a Giants fan, there is definitely a cause for concern.

Here are the facts: the Giants have lost eight of their last nine games, including dropping their last five contests after getting swept in three games by the National League West rival Colorado Rockies and then falling twice in a row to the Chicago White Sox.

The Giants (43-29) are still four games ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West, but if they don’t get it together quickly, starting with a three-game series that begins Friday night in Arizona against the Diamondbacks, things can get quite interesting in a hurry, especially considering the fact that the Dodgers have won each of their past three games.

On the other hand, this slide may be exactly what the Giants needed, a reality check to let them know that it is not going to be smooth sailing throughout the season, as it was until the losing streak began two weeks ago.

Tim Lincecum can get the Giants back on the right track Friday night, as he takes the ball against Arizona’s Josh Collmenter, who began this season in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen.

However, to say the Lincecum has not fared well against Arizona is a bit of an understatement. The right-hander is 1-7 with a 6.79 ERA in his last 10 starts against the Diamondbacks.