Oakland Athletics vs. San Francisco Giants (10:15 pm ET, NBC-11)
Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants fight it out in Game 1(10:15 pm ET, NBC-11), on Friday, at AT&T Park, San Francisco, California. The Athletics have a 32-30 home, 11-17 away record whereas Giants have 32-27 away, 19-11 home.
During a sweep of its Bay Area rival last month, Oakland Athletics did not have to face San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum. Things won’t be so fortunate for them this time. Tim Lincecum, in the opener of their interleague set at AT&T Park, will look to continue his dominance of the A’s and help the Giants start avenging that disappointing series Friday night.
While winning all three games May 21-23, Oakland (32-30) outscored San Francisco 10-1. With Lincecum (5-2, 3.20 ERA) on the mound, the A’s, 42-35 in the Bay Area series, have swept four of the last 10 series, however, to do it in San Francisco for the second time in three years might not be easy. In four starts against Oakland, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA.
“I’ve been kind of erratic with my mechanics and my timing and my motion, and this was a big step forward, I’ll take what I get “, said Lincecum, after giving up five walks in each of his previous four starts.
Reliever Jeremy Affeldt said, “They’re going to have to face a different team when it comes to confidence”.
After falling 7-6 at Cincinnati on Thursday to conclude a 4-3 road trip, San Francisco looks to avoid a third consecutive loss. The Giants stranded 13 runners and grounded into three double plays with the bases loaded, although Aubrey Huff and Aaron Rowand each homered.
