Seattle @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 6, 2012 ) Seattle 1, Oakland 4

The streaking Oakland Athletics continue to power their way to victories. Oakland takes a five-game winning streak into Saturday’s contest against the visiting Seattle Mariners after pinch hitter Chris Carter slammed a game-winning three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th. The Athletics have homered in 16 consecutive games and reached the .500 mark with Friday’s walkoff win. Seattle has lostdropped three straight to become the first American League team to reach 50 losses.

Oakland is 16-7 over its last 23 games, a remarkable run that has seen the Athletics reach the .500 mark for the first time since May 22. Carter’s blast was the 10th pinch-hit walkoff homer in Oakland Athletics history and the first since Kurt Suzuki accomplished the feat in 2008. Seattle’s lone run was driven in by third baseman Kyle Seager, who has 34 road RBIs compared to just 15 at home. Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki is 0-for-20 in five July games. He's hitting a career-low .258, but that's still good enough to lead the team.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), Comcast Sports California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners LH Jason Vargas (7-7, 4.31 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (5-3, 2.46)

Vargas hasn’t won since June 4, going 0-3 with two no-decisions during the stretch. He was superb against the Boston Red Sox in his last outing, allowing one run and five hits in eight innings, but had to settle for a no-decision. Vargas is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in three starts against Oakland this season. He matched a career-high with 10 strikeouts in 6 2/3 innings against the Athletics on June 26 while taking a no-decision.

Parker is in the midst of a stretch in which he has allowed one run or less in six of his last seven starts. He has given up three runs and 16 hits in 26 2/3 innings over his last four outings, going 3-0 in that span. Parker defeated Seattle on June 27 when he allowed one run and three hits in seven innings.

WALK-OFFS:

1. Vargas has allowed at least one home run in 10 consecutive starts and has given up a major league-high 22 overall – equaling the amount he gave up all of last season.

2. Oakland starters have allowed one run or less in seven straight games, one off the franchise mark set in 1966 when the franchise resided in Kansas City.

3. Mariners 1B Justin Smoak fanned three times in four hitless at-bats Friday and is just 8-for-71 (.113) over his last 20 games.