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Yanks, A's battle for series advantage in Oakland

Jul 21, 2012 - 3:20 PM (Sports Network) - A pair of former first-round picks will square off Saturday night in Oakland when the Athletics play host to the New York Yankees in the third contest of a four-game series.

The Yankees will send to the mound Phil Hughes, who is 9-7 with a 4.22 ERA on the season.

Since allowing six earned runs in a 10-5 loss to Atlanta on June 20, Hughes has settled down, allowing three earned runs or less in each of his last four starts. Though he earned a no-decision in his last outing on July 16, he pitched seven strong innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs.

"Certainly wasn't a bad outing," Hughes said of his last start. "If this is the low end for the second half, that will be great."

Hughes hasn't found much success against the Athletics in his career, sporting a 6.08 ERA in 23 2/3 career innings against them.

Oakland will counter with Jarrod Parker, who has been very effective in his rookie year with a 6-4 record and a 3.16 ERA.

However, after allowing one earned run or less in seven of eight starts from late May to early July, Parker has struggled of late. He's allowed 10 earned runs over 10 2/3 innings in his last two starts, though he still earned the win his last time out on July 15 against Minnesota.

Parker has enjoyed pitching in Oakland. Though he's just 2-2 in eight home starts, he has a 2.45 ERA and batters are hitting just .215 against him.

The Athletics captured the second game of the series on Friday night in walk- off fashion, 3-2, while winning their third straight in the process.

Oakland took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning before Robinson Cano blasted his 22nd home run of the year to even the game.

After Josh Reddick struck out to start the bottom of the ninth, the A's strung together three straight hits, with Brandon Moss singling home Yoenis Cespedes for the game-winner.

Tommy Milone was dazzling in seven innings of work, surrendering just six hits and no earned runs while striking out a career-high 10 and walking none. With the great outing, the left-hander lowed his ERA to 3.34.

Ryan Cook (4-2) blew his fourth save of the season in the top of the ninth, but was bailed out by his offense in the bottom of the inning to earn the win.

Cespedes continued his hot streak with a 4-for-5 night. He's now batting .304 and has multi-hit games in six of his last seven games.

Prior to his home run, Cano connected on a seventh-inning single that extended his hitting streak to 23 straight games. The second baseman is batting .400 over his career-best run since his last game without a hit on June 23.

Ivan Nova pitched 6 2/3 innings, giving up nine hits and two earned runs while striking out six. Cody Eppley (0-1) gave up all three hits in the ninth without recording an out.

The Athletics were swept by New York in three games from May 25-27. They haven't won or tied a series with the Yankees at home since 2007.