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Oakland aims to snap four-game skid vs. Orioles

Sep 5, 2008 - 10:20 AM Oakland (63-77) at Baltimore (63-76) 7:05 p.m. EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics aim to snap a four-game skid on Friday when they meet the Baltimore Orioles in a matchup of two of the worst teams in the American League.

Oakland left 19 runners on base in dropping both games of a doubleheader against the lowly Kansas City Royals on Thursday. The A's lost the first game, 5-4, in 11 innings.

In the nightcap, Oakland fell behind, 9-1, before falling short, 9-6. The second game was a bit concerning, as the normally strong pitching staff was rocked for 15 hits. The A's have a 3.91 team ERA, but allowed the light-hitting Royals to .320 in the series.

Dallas Braden (4-3, 3.88 ERA) looks to restore order. The lefthander is 3-3 with a 3.59 ERA in eight starts since being moved from the bullpen into the rotation. Braden will not have to worry about reigning AL Player of the Month Melvin Mora, who will miss a sixth straight game due to a strained left hamstring.

Mora hit .418 with eight home runs and led baseball with 32 RBI in August.

Baltimore, which is coming off an 0-6 road trip, sends rookie Chris Waters (2-1, 5.45) to the mound. Waters is 1-1 with a 6.61 ERA in his last three outings. The lefthander allowed five runs and eight hits in 4 1-3 innings of a 10-9 loss to Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Baltimore is winless in three meetings between the teams.