Final
  for this game

Giants-Athletics Preview

Jun 24, 2009 - 10:12 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

San Francisco (38-32) at Oakland (31-39), 10:05 p.m. EDT

Since winning his 300th game earlier this month, San Francisco Giants left-hander Randy Johnson has one victory in his last three starts, and it was against the Oakland Athletics.

The future Hall of Famer will try to beat the A's again in Wednesday night's finale of a three-game set in Oakland and help the Giants win both series this season against their interleague rivals.

In a 5-1 victory June 4 at Washington, Johnson (6-5, 5.00 ERA) became the 24th member of the 300-win club and sixth left-handed pitcher to reach that mark. However, he has one quality start in his three outings since then, allowing two runs over seven innings in a 5-2 victory June 13 over Oakland at home.

With his 301st career win, Johnson avoided a third straight loss to the A's and improved to 14-9 in his career against them.

In his most recent start, though, he couldn't hold on to a two-run lead Friday night to visiting Texas and allowed three runs in the sixth inning before being lifted with two outs. He didn't factor in the decision in the Giants' 6-4 comeback win.

"I was more disappointed with coming out," Johnson told the team's official Web site about his 600th career start. "(The game) was hanging in the balance there."

After dropping 10 of its previous 11 to the A's, San Francisco has won six of the last seven meetings, and its pitchers have played a critical role in that stretch.

The Giants (38-32) have posted a 1.45 ERA in their last seven games against Oakland and evened this series thanks to another dominant performance from reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Tim Lincecum.

Lincecum struck out 12 in Tuesday night's 4-1 win and recorded his second complete game in three outings - both against Oakland.

Lincecum's only blemish was Jason Giambi's solo home run in the second as he led the Giants to their fourth win in five games.

Oakland (31-39) had won four of six but went 0 for 5 with runners in scoring position. The A's have hit an AL-worst .236 this season, and their .250 average with runners in scoring position ranks ahead of only the Chicago White Sox (.246) and Seattle (.231) in the league.

"We had our opportunities this time and couldn't get the key hit," manager Bob Geren said.

Geren lost his original scheduled starter for Wednesday, left-hander Josh Outman, after he left with tightness in his throwing arm in the second inning of Friday night's 7-5 win in San Diego. Outman was place on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday with a sprained elbow.

Gio Gonzalez (0-0, 7.27) was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make his first start this season and eighth of his career. The left-hander, who was brought up twice last month and made one relief appearance each time, was 4-1 with a 2.51 ERA this season for the team's nearby affiliate.

Gonzalez, who has never faced San Francisco, was 1-4 with a 7.68 ERA in 10 appearances - seven starts - last season.






  • 5
    roots
    MattDOOM777 Added 5 roots

    Giants 6, Athletics 3  FinalJun 25 8:21 AM


  • ML
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    SAN FRANCISCO 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 6 11 0
    OAKLAND 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 3 8 3 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: SFO - RANDY JOHNSON, SERGIO ROMO (8TH), BOB HOWRY (9TH), BRIAN
    WILSON (9TH) AND BENGIE MOLINA
    OAK - GIO GONZALEZ, EDGAR GONZALEZ (4TH), RUSS SPRINGER
    (6TH), MICHAE

    Jun 25 12:51 AM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    DOUBLE BY NOMAR GARCIAPARRA SCORED RAJAI DAVIS.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N GARCIAPARRA ON SECOND, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 6
    OAKLAND 3 BOTTOM, 9TH
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: A KENNEDY (.300, 1-FOR-4)

    Giants 6, Athletics 3  Bot 9, 0 OutsJun 25 12:48 AM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY KURT SUZUKI (4) TO LEFT WITH 0 OUT IN THE
    8TH OFF SERGIO ROMO.
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 6, OAKLAND 2
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.228, 1-FOR-3)

    Giants 6, Athletics 2  Bot 8, 0 OutsJun 25 12:29 AM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    SACRIFICE FLY BY EDGAR RENTERIA SCORED AARON ROWAND.
    SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, B MOLINA ON FIRST, A TORRES ON THIRD, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 6
    OAKLAND 1 TOP, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR SAN FRANCISCO: R AURILIA (.220, 2-FOR-2)

    Giants 6, Athletics 1  Top 4, 0 OutsJun 24 11:18 PM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    GROUND OUT BY PABLO SANDOVAL SCORED MATT DOWNS.
    SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, A TORRES ON SECOND, A ROWAND ON THIRD, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 5
    OAKLAND 1 TOP, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR SAN FRANCISCO: B MOLINA (.262, 0-FOR-2)

    Giants 5, Athletics 1  Top 4, 0 OutsJun 24 11:16 PM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY ANDRES TORRES SCORED NATE SCHIERHOLTZ.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A TORRES ON FIRST, A ROWAND ON SECOND, M
    DOWNS ON THIRD, 0 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 4
    OAKLAND 1 TOP, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR SAN FRANCISCO: P SANDOVAL (.337, 1-FOR-2)

    Giants 4, Athletics 1  Top 4, 0 OutsJun 24 11:14 PM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    DOUBLE BY AARON ROWAND SCORED MATT DOWNS.
    SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, A ROWAND ON THIRD, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 3
    OAKLAND 1 TOP, 2ND
    DUE UP FOR SAN FRANCISCO: A TORRES (.265, 0-FOR-1)

    Giants 3, Athletics 1  Top 2, 0 OutsJun 24 10:39 PM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY NATE SCHIERHOLTZ (2) TO RIGHT WITH 2
    OUT IN THE 2ND OFF GIO GONZALEZ SCORED RICH AURILIA.
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 2, OAKLAND 1
    DUE UP FOR SAN FRANCISCO: M DOWNS (.227, 0 HR, 1 RBI)

    Giants 2, Athletics 1  Top 2, 0 OutsJun 24 10:37 PM


  • ML
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY KURT SUZUKI SCORED ADAM KENNEDY.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, K SUZUKI ON FIRST, 0 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: SAN FRANCISCO 0
    OAKLAND 1 BOTTOM, 1ST
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.226, 13 HR, 37 RBI)

    Giants 0, Athletics 1  Bot 1, 0 OutsJun 24 10:24 PM