San Francisco @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 23, 2012 ) San Francisco 9, Oakland 8

After being shuttled back and forth between San Francisco and Triple-A Fresno last season, Brandon Belt is finally settling in as the Giants’ starting first baseman. Belt went 2-for-3 in Saturday’s 9-8 win over the Athletics to extend his hitting streak to a career-best 11 games, batting .441 (15-for-34) with four homers and 12 RBIs during that stretch. The Giants took advantage of four errors and nine walks to win their second straight over Oakland, which entered the series just two games under .500.

The Athletics, who trail the Rangers by a season-high 10 games in the AL West, are batting .226 (44-for-195) over the last seven games. It’s been a quiet series for Oakland slugger Yoenis Cespedes, who has gone 1-for-9 with five strikeouts. Cespedes, who hit a walk-off homer against the Dodgers on Thursday, is batting .268 with seven home runs and 30 RBIs. He’s served as Oakland’s designated hitter in each of the past four games while he recovers from a strained left hamstring.

TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, CSN Bay Area (San Francisco), CSNCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Matt Cain (9-2, 2.34 ERA) vs. Athletics RH A.J. Griffin (NR)

Cain has won his last eight starts, a career high and the longest win streak in Giants history since Rick Reuschel won eight consecutive starts in 1989. He’s 3-5 with a 2.19 ERA and three complete games in nine career starts against Oakland. In his last four starts against the Athletics, Cain has gone 2-1 with a 0.87 ERA.

Griffin will make his major-league debut in place of Brandon McCarthy, who was scratched because of lingering soreness in his ailing right shoulder. After starting the year at Double-A Midland, Griffin has gone 3-2 with a 2.81 ERA in eight starts at Triple-A Sacramento. He has displayed superb control, striking out 40 and walking only seven.

WALK-OFFS

1. Giants CF Angel Pagan went 1-for-3 on Saturday after missing Friday’s series opener with an abdominal muscle strain.

2. Oakland placed OF Collin Cowgill on the 15-day disabled list with a left ankle sprain and recalled IF Brandon Hicks from Triple-A Sacramento.

3. Oakland’s Brandon Moss committed three errors in the sixth inning on Saturday, tying a major league record for most errors by a first baseman in an inning.