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Athletics-Royals Preview

Sep 15, 2010 - 4:52 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Oakland (72-71) at Kansas City (58-85), 8:10 p.m. EDT

While the season is winding down for the Oakland Athletics, Trevor Cahill seems to be getting stronger.

Cahill goes for his 17th win when he takes the mound for the Athletics on Wednesday night as they close a three-game series against the Kansas City Royals.

Cahill (16-6, 2.61 ERA) won for the fourth time in five starts Friday, giving up three hits in seven innings of a 5-0 win over Boston. He pitched six scoreless innings against the Angels in his previous start.

"I just try to go out every time and give the team a chance to win," Cahill said.

The last Oakland starter to win 17 games was Mark Mulder in 2004. Cahill ranks among the league leaders in victories despite starting the season in the minors. He's recorded the most wins by an Athletics starter without getting a victory in April since Vida Blue posted 17 wins in 1974.

Cahill is 3-0 with a 3.38 ERA in four career starts against Kansas City (59-85), including two this season. He pitched a three-hit shutout Aug. 2 for his first career complete game.

Cahill will look to give Oakland (72-72) a lengthy outing and try to cool off the Royals after Gio Gonzalez was tagged for seven runs and seven hits in two innings of Tuesday's 11-3 loss.

The defeat was the A's second in the last six games. They had allowed 12 runs in the previous five with the team coming off a 3-1 victory in Monday's series opener.

The Royals, who won for the third time in 12 games this month, tied a season high with three home runs. Kila Ka'aihue hit a two-run homer in the first, Mike Aviles had a three-run shot in the third and Wilson Betemit added a two-run blast in the same inning as Kansas City build an 11-0 lead after three innings.

"It was a big night for Ka'aihue," manager Ned Yost said. "Gonzalez is very tough on left-handed hitters and Kila really got us going with a home run in the first inning.

"Aviles has been displaying some power of late. It was nice to put some balls out of the park and put some runs on the board."

Despite losing six of eight, the Royals have averaged 4.9 runs while hitting .301 during that stretch. Aviles is 6 for 8 in this series with two home runs.

The Royals, who haven't won a series against the Athletics since sweeping three games September 2008, will hand the ball to Bruce Chen (9-7, 4.67) on Wednesday.

Chen gave up one run and four hits in seven innings of a 4-3 loss to the White Sox on Friday before leaving without a decision.

The left-hander is 1-2 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts against the Athletics. He opposed Cahill on July 17, giving up four runs in 5 2-3 innings of a 6-5 loss while the Oakland right-hander allowed five runs in 6 2-3 innings. Neither starter received a decision.