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Britton, O's try to bounce back against Athletics

Sep 15, 2012 - 2:20 PM (Sports Network) - Baltimore left-hander Zach Britton tries to bounce back from his first loss in more than a month on Saturday when the Orioles continue a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

Britton had won four straight starts before losing to New York on Sunday. He allowed five runs and five hits in 3 1/3 innings of that one, as he fell to 5-2 on the year to go along with a 4.72 ERA.

Britton has faced the A's three times and is 1-1 with a 6.62 ERA.

Oakland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Jarrod Parker, who has won three of his last four decisions. Parker beat the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday, limiting them to a run and four hits in seven innings to run his record to 10-8, while lowering his ERA to 3.56.

"They were aggressive as well, so I tried to get early contact, early outs, and it translated into going deep in the game," Parker said.

Parker and Tommy Milone both have 10 wins, giving the A's two rookies with at least 10 wins for just the second time in Oakland history and first since 2009, when Brett Anderson compiled 11 and Trevor Cahill racked up 10.

"It's an accomplishment, obviously, but I don't think we're done," Parker said. "I'm not done."

Parker was beat up by the Orioles back on July 27, but did not get a decision, despite Baltimore reaching him for six runs in five innings.

On Friday, Milone pitched into the seventh inning, Yoenis Cespedes hit a two- run homer and Oakland eked out a 3-2 win.

Milone (13-10), who has won four of his last five starts, was charged with two runs -- one earned -- on six hits over 6 1/3 frames. The lefty walked two and struck out a pair.

"That's the kind of game we've seen him pitch all year," said Athletics manager Bob Melvin. "He bends a little but doesn't break. It was a big-time performance out of him."

Jonny Gomes hit a go-ahead, fifth-inning RBI single for the AL Wild Card- leading Athletics. They have won seven of eight overall and sit three games behind the Texas Rangers in the AL West.

Joe Saunders (2-2) gave up three runs on seven hits over six innings in the loss. He walked two and fanned six.

"Milone pitched a great game. He made some big pitches when he needed to," Saunders said. "We had our chances and just fell a little bit short."

Chris Davis hit a solo homer for the Orioles, who were coming off a sweep of the Tampa Bay Rays.

Baltimore could have grabbed sole possession of the AL East lead with a victory, but instead remained tied atop the division with the New York Yankees, who lost to Tampa Bay earlier Friday.

New York and Baltimore are also tied for the AL's final wild card spot.

Prior to this series, the A's and O's split six meetings this season -- all in Baltimore.