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Oakland Athletics have hit the final stretch of what has been an unsuccessful road trip, and they take on the
Atlanta Braves tonight in the opener of a three-game interleague series at Turner Field.
The Athletics were just swept in three games at Cleveland to fall to 1-5 on a nine-game swing. In Thursday's 4-2 setback against the Indians at Progressive Field, Frank Thomas and Bobby Crosby both finished with two hits to highlight the Oakland offense.
A's starting pitcher Greg Smith was roughed up for three runs and seven hits over 4 2/3 innings to suffer the loss. Oakland, though, is just a half-game behind the LA Angels of Anaheim for the top spot in the AL West division.
Oakland will hand the ball to Dana Eveland on Friday, and he is 3-3 with a 3.23 earned run average in eight starts this season. Eveland is 0-2 with a 4.42 ERA over his three most recent trips to the hill and suffered a loss Saturday at Texas. Eveland yielded three runs and six hits in six frames of a 6-4 setback in that game.
The right-hander, who is 1-3 in five road starts, is 0-0 with a 13.50 ERA in two relief appearances against Atlanta (1 1/3 IP).
After sweeping Cincinnati and San Diego at home, the Braves went 2-5 on a seven-game road trip through Pennsylvania. They lost three of four to the Pirates before dropping two of three against the Phillies, including Thursday's 5-0 setback in the finale of the series at Citizens Bank Park.
Cole Hamels tossed a four-hit shutout to stymie the Braves, who got hits from Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Omar Infante and Gregor Blanco. Atlanta starter Chuck James surrendered five runs on six hits and five walks in four innings of work to absorb the loss.
The Braves are back at home and are an impressive 14-4 as the host this year. They will open an 11-game homestand versus the A's, Mets and Diamondbacks tonight.
Second-year hurler Jair Jurrjens will take the hill for the Braves on Friday, and is 4-3 with a 3.10 ERA in eight starts this season.
Jurrjens was 3-0 in four starts before losing at Pittsburgh on Monday. He surrendered three runs and three hits over five innings of a 5-0 setback to the Pirates at PNC Park.
The righty has never faced Oakland in his brief career.
Oakland and the New York Yankees have the most wins in interleague play with 113, but the Yankees sport a better winning percentage at 113-79. The Athletics are 113-81 all-time against the National League, while Atlanta is 95-86 against the AL.
Both teams are meeting for the first time since the A's won two of three games against Atlanta at Turner Field in 2005. The Braves were 4-11 in interleague play last season and Oakland ended with a 10-8 record.
