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Orioles-Athletics Preview

Apr 16, 2010 - 6:31 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (1-8) at Oakland (6-4), 10:05 p.m. EDT

While the Baltimore Orioles' early season misery lingers, the Oakland Athletics continue to grow more confident with each victory.

The A's look to extend their home winning streak over the struggling Orioles to eight games as their series continues Friday night.

Though not even two weeks into the season, Oakland (7-4) is the surprise leader in the AL West after finishing last in 2009.

"It's a great way to start to start the season," Friday's scheduled starter Dallas Braden told the Athletics' official Web site. "We feel we can compete with anybody. If we can continue to do what we've done so far, which is win the series, we'll be OK."

The A's are in good position to do that after posting a 6-2 win over Baltimore (1-9) in Thursday's series opener.

The Orioles, meanwhile, have lost seven in a row and are off to their worst start since going 0-21 in 1988.

Baltimore, which opened a 10-game road swing Thursday, has not won't in Oakland in since July 22, 2007. It's been outscored 39-15 during the seven-game road skid to the A's.

Adam Rosales had two hits and Ryan Sweeney extended his hitting streak to 10 games as Oakland broke out offensively after totaling two runs in losing the final two contests of a three-game set at Seattle.

With starting second baseman Mark Ellis out with a strained hamstring, Rosales has stepped up in his place. The versatile Rosales is 6 for 15 with four RBIs in six games this season.

Adam Jones had three hits with an RBI on Thursday for the Orioles, who went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position. Baltimore has been outscored 43-18 during its current losing stretch.

"We're not getting hits that are doing damage," said Jones, who's 7 for 13 in his last three games at Oakland. "We're going to get those hits, I know we are. We just have to keep moving forward, just play and let everything else take care of itself."

Baltimore hopes to snap out of its offensive slump and provide more support for scheduled starter Kevin Millwood (0-1, 2.13 ERA) as he tries a third time for his first victory with the Orioles.

Three of the six runs Millwood has allowed in his first two starts have been unearned. The Orioles have scored five total runs in those contests.

Millwood allowed four runs - one earned - and struck out six without a walk in 7 2-3 innings, but took the loss as the Orioles fell 5-2 to Toronto on Sunday.

"That's just the way it is," Millwood said.

The right-hander is 6-3 with a 3.38 ERA in 16 starts versus the Athletics, including 3-0 with a 1.85 ERA in his last five.

Braden (1-0, 2.77), meanwhile, has been just as tough on the Orioles in his previous three major league seasons. He's 3-1 with a 1.44 ERA as a starter versus Baltimore.

The left-hander tries for a second straight victory overall after giving up three runs in six innings of a 9-4 road win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.