Bear
06-12-2008, 06:23 PM
Friday, June 13 AT&T Park | 7:15 PM PT
Greg Smith, LHP (3-5, 3.74) Athletics (35-30) @ Barry Zito, LHP (2-9, 5.83) Giants (30-37)
Scouting Report:
A's: Smith threw what he called an inconsistent game in his last start against the Angels, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Coming off his worst start of the season, a seven-run no-decision against Texas, his performance against the Angels represented just the third time in his career he allowed at least four earned runs. This will be Smith's first start against the Giants.
Giants: Zito picked up his second win of the season against the Nationals, allowing three runs spread out over five innings of work, and leaving the bases loaded in the fifth to protect his win. He showed flashes of the strong command the Giants would like to see regularly, but had to labor to get out of jams in some innings. He said afterward that he was struggling to cope with the intense Washington heat during the afternoon game. His 83-pitch outing is something the team would like to see him build on against Oakland.
Saturday, June 14 AT&T Park | 6:05 PM PT
Rich Harden, RHP (3-0, 2.85) Athletics (35-30) @ Matt Cain, RHP (3-4, 4.43) Giants (30-37)
Scouting Report:
A's: Harden got his third consecutive no-decision in his last start against the Angels, pitching six effective innings while surrendering three runs on six hits and three walks with a season-high-tying nine strikeouts. The highlight of his 99-pitch outing were the first nine pitches he threw in the game that struck out the side.
Giants: After struggling to find his command, Cain spent the week consulting with the team's other pitchers and coaches. His practice paid off on Monday as he displayed strong command in a 3-2 victory against Washington. He walked one and struck out six while lasting 6 1/3 innings. After the game, he said he felt confident during the outing, and will look to keep his aggressive mentality against Oakland.
Sunday, June 15 AT&T Park | 1:05 PM PT
Dana Eveland, LHP (4-5, 3.76) Athletics (35-30) @ Kevin Correia, RHP (1-3, 4.50) Giants (30-37)
Scouting Report:
A's: Entering his last start, against the Yankees, Eveland had not been the same pitcher since throwing a one-run complete game on May 21. He had lasted just 4 1/3 innings in two consecutive starts, giving up a combined 10 runs. Against New York he fared better, giving up two runs on just four hits while walking six and striking out three, but it wasn't enough for a win. It marked the seventh time in 13 starts he allowed two runs or fewer. This will be Eveland's first career start versus the Giants. In 2007, he pitched a perfect 1/3 of an inning in relief against them as a Diamondback.
Giants: This will be Correia's first start since April 26, when he was removed after facing three Cincinnati hitters with a strained muscle in his left side. Correia looked sharp in his Minor League injury rehabilitation outings -- particularly last Monday, when he allowed one run and five hits in seven innings against Triple-A Colorado Springs. Except for that truncated effort against the Reds, Correia lasted at least six innings in each of his four starts.
I like the Giants to take two out of three and maybe if they are lucky three out of three.
GO GIANTS, BEAT THE A'S
Greg Smith, LHP (3-5, 3.74) Athletics (35-30) @ Barry Zito, LHP (2-9, 5.83) Giants (30-37)
Scouting Report:
A's: Smith threw what he called an inconsistent game in his last start against the Angels, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks with three strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings. Coming off his worst start of the season, a seven-run no-decision against Texas, his performance against the Angels represented just the third time in his career he allowed at least four earned runs. This will be Smith's first start against the Giants.
Giants: Zito picked up his second win of the season against the Nationals, allowing three runs spread out over five innings of work, and leaving the bases loaded in the fifth to protect his win. He showed flashes of the strong command the Giants would like to see regularly, but had to labor to get out of jams in some innings. He said afterward that he was struggling to cope with the intense Washington heat during the afternoon game. His 83-pitch outing is something the team would like to see him build on against Oakland.
Saturday, June 14 AT&T Park | 6:05 PM PT
Rich Harden, RHP (3-0, 2.85) Athletics (35-30) @ Matt Cain, RHP (3-4, 4.43) Giants (30-37)
Scouting Report:
A's: Harden got his third consecutive no-decision in his last start against the Angels, pitching six effective innings while surrendering three runs on six hits and three walks with a season-high-tying nine strikeouts. The highlight of his 99-pitch outing were the first nine pitches he threw in the game that struck out the side.
Giants: After struggling to find his command, Cain spent the week consulting with the team's other pitchers and coaches. His practice paid off on Monday as he displayed strong command in a 3-2 victory against Washington. He walked one and struck out six while lasting 6 1/3 innings. After the game, he said he felt confident during the outing, and will look to keep his aggressive mentality against Oakland.
Sunday, June 15 AT&T Park | 1:05 PM PT
Dana Eveland, LHP (4-5, 3.76) Athletics (35-30) @ Kevin Correia, RHP (1-3, 4.50) Giants (30-37)
Scouting Report:
A's: Entering his last start, against the Yankees, Eveland had not been the same pitcher since throwing a one-run complete game on May 21. He had lasted just 4 1/3 innings in two consecutive starts, giving up a combined 10 runs. Against New York he fared better, giving up two runs on just four hits while walking six and striking out three, but it wasn't enough for a win. It marked the seventh time in 13 starts he allowed two runs or fewer. This will be Eveland's first career start versus the Giants. In 2007, he pitched a perfect 1/3 of an inning in relief against them as a Diamondback.
Giants: This will be Correia's first start since April 26, when he was removed after facing three Cincinnati hitters with a strained muscle in his left side. Correia looked sharp in his Minor League injury rehabilitation outings -- particularly last Monday, when he allowed one run and five hits in seven innings against Triple-A Colorado Springs. Except for that truncated effort against the Reds, Correia lasted at least six innings in each of his four starts.
I like the Giants to take two out of three and maybe if they are lucky three out of three.
GO GIANTS, BEAT THE A'S