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Giants-Athletics Preview

Jun 22, 2009 - 3:28 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

San Francisco (36-31) at Oakland (30-37), 10:05 p.m. EDT

The Oakland Athletics are set to set to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their last World Series title when the San Francisco Giants visit this week.

Recently, though, it has been San Francisco that has been doing the celebrating in meetings with Oakland.

The Athletics look to end their five-game losing streak to the Giants on Monday night when the Bay Area rivals begin a three-game set.

Oakland (30-38) has three days worth of festivities lined up for this series against San Francisco (37-31). The Athletics swept the Giants in the 1989 World Series better known for the earthquake that occurred in the region and forced the postponement of Game 3 for 10 days.

The A's are happy to be home after going 3-6 on an interleague road trip that ended with a 4-1 loss to San Diego on Sunday. The trip started with a three-game sweep by the Giants from June 12-14.

"With the San Francisco series, we didn't score very much," manager Bob Geren told the Athletics' official Web site. "But the other series were very fun, competitive games."

Saying that Oakland hasn't scored much against San Francisco is an understatement. The A's have managed four runs in the five-game losing streak against the Giants, and were outscored 15-3 earlier this month.

San Francisco got two complete games in that series, but Oakland may have a better chance in the opener of this one since struggling Jonathan Sanchez (2-7, 5.43 ERA) will take the mound for the Giants.

Sanchez is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in his last three outings. He gave up a season-high seven runs Tuesday in an 8-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, lasting 3 2-3 innings for his shortest start of the year.

"You have to come back," Sanchez told the Giants' official Web site. "At some point it's going to turn around."

Sanchez has started against the A's once in his career. The left-hander allowed one run over seven innings to beat them 11-1 on June 29, 2008.

The Giants head across the bay after completing a three-game sweep of Texas with a 3-2 victory Sunday. Barry Zito pitched seven strong innings and Randy Winn singled in Aaron Rowand with the go-ahead run in the seventh.

San Francisco catcher Bengie Molina got Sunday off, and could be back behind the plate or serve as the designated hitter.

The hottest hitter for the Giants is first baseman Pablo Sandoval, who is 24 for 51 (.471) with four homers and nine RBIs over his last 14 games, including 4 for 10 in the series versus the A's.

Oakland rookie Trevor Cahill (4-5, 3.89) will face San Francisco for the first time. Cahill has allowed three runs or less in his last six starts, going 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in that span.

The 21-year-old right-hander won Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers by giving up two unearned runs over 5 1-3 innings in a 5-4 victory. Cahill improved to 1-1 with a 1.42 ERA in two interleague starts.