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Athletics-Royals Preview

Aug 7, 2009 - 4:28 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (47-60) at Kansas City (41-66), 8:10 p.m. EDT

The Oakland Athletics ended their last road trip with some tough play against one of the best home teams in the majors. A trip to Kauffman Stadium shouldn't be nearly as challenging.

After failing to complete a sweep of their last series, the Athletics look to take advantage of a lowly Kansas City Royals team as they open a three-game set Friday night.

Oakland (47-61) finished a 4-3 homestand with three wins in four games against Texas, but lost the finale 6-4 on Thursday and was unable to earn a sweep for the first time since a three-game series against Baltimore from June 5-7.

The A's entered their recent homestand following a 3-5 road trip. Oakland ended that stretch by splitting a four-game series against Boston, which is 35-17 at home.

It was a promising series for the A's, who are 21-33 on the road. They'll next face the American League's worst home team.

Kansas City (42-66) beat Seattle 8-2 on Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium, but it is 24-34 there on the season. The Royals had lost 19 of 23 at home before salvaging the finale of a three-game set.

Kansas City, which had its highest-scoring game since an 8-7 loss to Tampa Bay on July 17, next faces struggling Oakland right-hander Vin Mazzaro (2-8, 5.73 ERA).

Mazzaro has lost eight straight decisions since winning his first two career starts. He gave up seven runs and 10 hits in five innings of Oakland's 7-2 loss to Toronto on Sunday.

Mazzaro has surrendered six runs or more in four straight starts - the first A's starter to do that since Dave Stewart in 1991.

"They are going to hurt you if you miss your spots," said Mazzaro, one of four rookies in Oakland's rotation. "That's the thing I have to work on a lot. That's what I'm learning now."

This will be his first appearance against the Royals.

Kansas City will counter with Brian Bannister (7-7, 3.59), who is 2-2 with a 2.58 ERA in his last seven starts. He earned a win in his last outing, striking out seven in seven scoreless innings as Kansas City beat Tampa Bay 4-1 on Sunday.

The right-hander is 1-2 with a 3.35 ERA in six starts versus the A's.

Kansas City's bullpen, which has a 5.06 ERA, got some help Thursday as right-hander Doug Waechter was activated from the disabled list. Waechter, who was 4-2 with a 3.69 ERA in 48 appearances for Florida last season, had been out with a strained right elbow since April 21.

The Royals will try to shut down an A's team that averaged 7.3 runs in their final three games at Boston from July 28-30.

Oakland has a major league-best 55 doubles since the All-Star break. The A's got RBI doubles from Nomar Garciaparra, Rajai Davis and Scott Hairston on Thursday.

A two-run double by Mark Teahen helped Kansas City bat around and score five runs in the first inning Thursday against Seattle. Billy Butler had a two-run homer in that inning for the Royals.

The first baseman connected for the 13th time this season and had his team-leading 14th multi-RBI game. He's 7 for 11 with two homers and six RBIs in his last three contests.

"I think Billy's continuing to mature, getting quicker and better recognition more often," Royals manager Trey Hillman said. "I think that's helping him. In hitting counts, he's not trying to add power, but just letting it happen."