Athletics 0 - 4 Giants
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Giants turn to Vogelsong versus Athletics

May 19, 2012 - 3:02 PM

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(Sports Network) - Ryan Vogelsong has pitched better as of late than his 1-2 record would indicate, but control has been a bit of an issue for the right- hander.

Vogelsong tries to even his season record this afternoon with his first career victory against the Athletics as the Giants continue a three-game series with Oakland.

Vogelsong has allowed just three earned over his past three starts, spanning 21 1/3 innings, to lower his season earned run average to 2.66, but is only 1-1 over that time while walking 12. He issued five free passes and three hits in seven innings of one-run ball versus the Rockies on Monday, getting a no- decision to keep his season record at 1-2.

The 34-year-old's only run allowed came on a fourth inning solo homer and the Giants pounded out a 3-2.

"I was just trying to survive until I found something that worked," Vogelsong told the Giants' official website. "I gave up that home run and I kind of found something while I was warming up between innings. It wasn't really one thing. It was kind of something different each inning."

The former All-Star will face the A's for the third time in his career and has logged a 5.40 ERA against them without a decision.

For Oakland, right-hander Tyson Ross will try to record consecutive winning starts for the first time since last May 8-14 after halting a three-start slide on Monday. Ross threw scoreless baseball on that day at the Angels, logging six innings of five-hit ball.

"After a rough first inning I stayed with my game plan," said Ross. "I tried not to get the pitch count up too high. I mixed it up with split-changeups and breaking balls. I like the mound here and I feel like I'm on top of the hitter."

The 25-year-old is 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA in six starts this season and has faced the Giants just once before, giving up two runs while recording three outs in relief on June 11, 2010 in San Francisco.

The Giants picked up their 10th straight home victory over the Athletics on Friday, holding on for an 8-6 win. Brandon Belt drove in three runs, Hector Sanchez added another two RBI and Melky Cabrera scored twice.

Barry Zito surrendered four runs on five hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings for the Giants, who had a seven-run lead at one point before hanging on for the win over the last few frames.

"We've been putting up some runs this last week," said Zito. "These guys that we got going in the lineup, they're getting it done."

The Giants have won five of their last seven games.

Josh Donaldson smacked three hits, including a solo home run, to go with five RBI for Oakland, which has dropped four of its last six contests despite nearly rallying from an 8-1 deficit.

Jarrod Parker lasted just two innings in the start for the A's and allowed six runs on four hits.

"You always want to keep battling and keep fighting. We did that all the way through the ninth inning," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said.

Oakland holds a slim 45-42 advantage overall in this series, but comes in under .500 at 19-25 on San Francisco's home field.

Each team recorded a three-game sweep at home in last year's six-game series and the Athletics haven't won in San Francisco since finishing off a three- game sweep on June 15, 2008.






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