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Athletics-Royals Preview

Aug 9, 2009 - 5:18 AM By PAUL DIGIACOMO STATS Senior Editor

Oakland (48-61) at Kansas City (42-67), 2:10 p.m. EDT

The Kansas City Royals finally figured out a way to beat the Oakland Athletics. Luke Hochevar is hoping to do the same.

Roughed up in his two career outings versus the Athletics, the right-hander will be looking for his first career win against them Sunday.

Oakland won for the fourth time in five games Friday night by taking the opener of this series 9-4, improving to 3-0 against the Royals this year after dropping the last six meetings in 2008.

But after being outscored 28-9 in those three losses, Kansas City bounced back behind ace Zack Greinke on Saturday night with a 12-6 victory - its seventh in 28 games.

Mike Jacobs and Billy Butler each had three hits and drove in three runs as the Royals (43-67) won for the sixth time in 26 home games since June 17.

"Winning today really wasn't me, it was everyone," Greinke said.

Jacobs, who had his first three-hit game since May 6, hit a two-run homer during a four-run fourth inning. He is 7 for 11 with four RBIs over his last four games.

"It's been pretty exciting to see the good adjustments Jacobs has made," manager Trey Hillman said. "If he's hitting, it gives us a chance to drive the ball and score more runs."

The Royals have registered 10 or more hits in five of six games, including 17 on Saturday, when they tied their season high in runs. Kansas City also scored 12 times in a win at Texas on April 17.

The Royals will now turn to Hochevar (6-4, 5.40 ERA), who is 0-2 with an 18.90 ERA lifetime against Oakland (48-62). He allowed eight runs and seven hits over two innings of a 12-3 loss at Oakland on May 12.

Hochevar has struggled in his last two starts after an impressive stretch. He went 4-0 with a 3.43 ERA over six outings from June 24-July 25 but has posted a 9.00 ERA over his last 11 innings, allowing 11 runs and 18 hits.

"My pitch mix hasn't been very good," he told the Royals' official Web site. "That's basically it."

Brett Anderson (6-8, 4.20) looks to continue his recent run of success when he takes the mound for Oakland. The rookie left-hander has allowed more than three runs once in his last eight starts, going 3-1 with a 2.26 ERA and striking out 51 over 51 2-3 innings.

Anderson did not receive a decision Monday against the Rangers after allowing two runs and striking out eight over 7 2-3 innings of a 3-2 victory.

"It's been big for my confidence giving the team a chance to win every time," Anderson said. "That's what I want to be known as, the type of guy who keeps their team in the game."

Anderson, who has never faced Kansas City, has a 2.93 ERA in his last five road starts after posting a 5.97 ERA in his first seven away from home.

The Athletics will be starting a rookie pitcher for the ninth consecutive game, the longest streak in club history.