Oakland @ San Francisco preview
Oracle Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2010 ) Oakland 4, San Francisco 5
Matt Cain’s recent stretch of dominance began with a superb outing against the Oakland Athletics – a game that marked his third consecutive loss.
Cain had the misfortune of allowing one unearned run on May 22 during a series when the Athletics held the San Francisco Giants to one measly run during a three-game sweep in Oakland.
Cain gets another shot at the Athletics during Sunday’s finale of a three-game series in San Francisco when he seeks his fourth consecutive victory. The Giants will be looking to finish off a sweep of Oakland after winning the first two games of the series.
Beginning with the May loss to Oakland, Cain has given up just one earned run and 17 hits in 34 innings over his last four outings. Two of Cain’s wins were complete-game shutouts and he gave up one run in eight innings in the other victory.
Cain’s best of the strong outings was a one-hitter against Arizona in which he struck out nine and didn’t walk anyone.
The recent success has helped Cain (5-4) lower his earned-run average to 2.11. Opposing hitters are batting just .195 against him.
Despite a 2.44 lifetime ERA against Oakland, Cain is just 2-5 in seven starts against the Athletics.
One player Cain has always handled well is hot-hitting Oakland third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff, who extended his hitting streak to 13 games by going 3-for-5 against the Giants on Saturday.
But Kouzmanoff is hitting just .160 against Cain. His struggles have been so pronounced that he was given a day off in this season’s earlier outing against Cain.
Kouzmanoff is certainly locked in right now, batting .451 (23-for-51) during his hitting streak to raise his average 43 points to .287.
In the last seven games, Kouzmanoff has had three three-hit games and three two-hit games.
Center fielder Rajai Davis returned to the Athletics lineup on Saturday. He had missed four straight games with a hamstring injury.
Right fielder Ryan Sweeney didn’t start Saturday’s game in order to give his balky knees a rest. Sweeney is expected to start today against Cain.
Vin Mazzaro will start today’s tilt for Oakland. Mazzaro (2-0) gave up one run and five hits in five innings against the Los Angeles Angels in his most recent start.
Mazzaro is getting an extended opportunity to be a starting pitcher with Justin Duchscherer (hip) out for the season and Brett Anderson (elbow) on the disabled list.
In addition, Dallas Braden is experiencing elbow soreness and may have his next start pushed back. Braden hasn’t won since throwing his perfect game against Tampa Bay on Mother’s Day.
Mazzaro, who has a 4.91 ERA this season, has lost both of his career starts against the Giants.
San Francisco hopes to get shortstop Edgar Renteria (hamstring) back soon. Renteria has played in just four games since April 30.
The Giants are also close to reaching a decision on the status of outfielder Mark DeRosa (wrist). DeRosa, who has been sidelined since May 8, could undergo surgery next week.