Pittsburgh @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 10, 2013 ) Oakland 0, Pittsburgh 5

Two days after ending their horrors on the road, the Pittsburgh Pirates continue their nine-game trek on Friday with the opener of a three-game interleague series against the Oakland Athletics. Pittsburgh had lost six straight and 10 of 11 away from home before posting an 8-1 triumph at Seattle on Wednesday to earn a split of the two-game set that kicked off its road trip.

Starling Marte collected three hits in the win and is 9-for-25 during his six-game hitting streak. Oakland is coming off just its second loss in eight contests, a 12-6 home setback against San Francisco. The Athletics, who were attempting to sweep the four-game, home-and-home set versus the National League West leader, have been producing offensively as they have scored at least six runs in each of their last seven contests. Coco Crisp has been involved in the fireworks, going 11-for-29 with 11 RBIs and 11 runs scored during his eight-game hitting streak.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Jeff Locke (7-5, 5.12 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Sonny Gray (3-6, 5.03)

Locke has been superb of late, scattering five hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings against San Francisco on June 20 and limiting the Los Angeles Dodgers to one run and five hits in seven frames five days later. The back-to-back victories helped the 28-year-old native of New Hampshire erase the memories of his previous two outings, in which he surrendered a total of 18 runs over 8 2/3 innings. Locke pitched well in his only career start against Oakland but took the loss after allowing two runs and three hits in seven frames on July 8, 2013.

Gray has not been victorious since defeating the Blue Jays in Toronto on April 22, losing five of his last 10 starts. The 26-year-old from Nashville settled for a no-decision on the road against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday despite giving up only two runs and six hits over six innings. Gray made his only career appearance against Pittsburgh on July 10, 2013, allowing one hit while recording three strikeouts over two innings of relief in his major-league debut.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland's Marcus Semien, who leads all American League shortstops in homers with 16, has recorded three blasts and seven RBIs over his last five contests.

2. Pittsburgh RF Sean Rodriguez registered a career-high four RBIs on Wednesday and has collected eight over his last five games.

3. Oakland placed LHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder) on the disabled list and optioned RHP Zach Neal to Triple-A while recalling LHP Daniel Coulombe and RHP Andrew Triggs from Nashville.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Pirates 2