New York @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Jun 12, 2013 ) NY Yankees 2, Oakland 5
The Oakland Athletics attempt to extend their home winning streak and complete a sweep Thursday afternoon as they take on the New York Yankees in the finale of their three-game series. Oakland has won 10 straight at O.co Coliseum, its longest run since also capturing 10 in a row from Aug. 11-Sept. 1, 2006. The Athletics, who have won six consecutive home meetings with the Yankees, have not won 11 straight in their own ballpark since posting 12 consecutive victories from Aug. 13-Sept. 14, 2002.
Brandon Moss recorded his second two-homer performance of the season and John Jaso drove in a pair of runs as Oakland came away with a 5-2 triumph Wednesday. For the second straight night, the Yankees brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth inning, but Grant Balfour retired Jayson Nix on a comebacker to remain perfect in 17 save opportunities this year. New York is 3-3 on its 10-game West Coast road trip, which concludes with a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels that begins Friday.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, YES (New York), Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Hiroki Kuroda (6-5, 2.84 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (5-6, 4.68)
Kuroda is looking to snap his four-start winless streak as he has not tasted victory since limiting the Toronto Blue Jays to two hits over eight scoreless innings on May 17. The 38-year-old native of Japan is 0-3 with a 5.23 ERA during his drought, including a loss at Seattle on Friday in which he yielded four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 frames. Kuroda is 1-2 in three career starts against the Athletics, with his only triumph coming in Oakland.
Parker enters having won each of his last three starts, including two against the Chicago White Sox in which he allowed a total of two earned runs over 13 1/3 innings. The 24-year-old has yielded three earned runs or fewer in seven of his last eight outings, going 5-2 in that span. Parker won his only career decision against New York on July 21, 2012, when he gave up just one run and five hits in eight frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. Moss has recorded only five hits in his last 19 games, with all five being home runs.
2. Yankees RHP Michael Pineda is slated to throw a simulated game Friday as he continues his return from shoulder surgery.
3. Oakland (40-27) has won 20 of its last 25 contests and is off to its best start since 1990.
PREDICTION: Yankees 3, Athletics 2