San Francisco @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 21, 2018 ) San Francisco 3, Oakland 4

After taking two of three on the road last weekend in the first installment of the Bay Bridge Series, the Oakland Athletics attempt to do the same at home when they host the San Francisco Giants on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game set. Oakland dropped the opener of the series and nearly suffered the same fate on Saturday as it squandered a two-run lead before emerging with a 4-3 victory in 11 innings.

Jonathan Lucroy delivered the last of three straight two-out singles in the 11th to give the Athletics their 10th win in 14 contests and pull them within three games of the second wild-card spot in the American League. Hunter Pence went 3-for-5 and drove in two runs for San Francisco, which has lost four of its last five road games. The two RBIs matched the veteran outfielder's total from his previous 14 contests and raised his overall amount to 13 during an injury-plagued season. Brandon Belt returned from a paternity leave that lasted just one day and belted a solo homer - his first blast since June 28.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), NBCS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Johnny Cueto (3-1, 2.36 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Sean Manaea (9-6, 3.42)

Cueto was superb over his first five starts of the season but has struggled in two outings since returning from an elbow injury, going 0-1 while surrendering eight runs on 16 hits - four homers - and five walks over 10 innings. The 32-year-old Dominican showed a bit of improvement in a no-decision against the Chicago Cubs on July 11, allowing three runs in five frames while registering seven strikeouts. Cueto, who has yet to give up a run in 20 innings on the road this season, won his only career start versus the Athletics as he scattered seven hits over seven scoreless frames at Oakland on June 23, 2010 while with Cincinnati.

Manaea has won four consecutive decisions, including a triumph at San Francisco last Sunday in which he allowed two runs and five hits over six innings. With the victory, the 26-year-old native of Indiana improved to 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three career starts against the Giants. Manaea, who hasn't lost since May 30 versus Tampa Bay, has given up three runs or fewer in each outing during his eight-start unbeaten streak.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics 3B Matt Chapman recorded three of the team's seven hits on Saturday and has gone 5-for-12 over his last three games.

2. San Francisco optioned 3B Ryder Jones to Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday - one day after recalling him to replace Belt on the roster.

3. Oakland acquired RHP Jeurys Familia from the New York Mets on Saturday for RHP Bobby Wahl, 3B William Toffey and future considerations while transferring RHP Daniel Gossett (elbow) to the 60-day disabled list.

PREDICTION: Athletics 5, Giants 4