Seattle @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 27, 2012 ) Oakland 2, Seattle 1

The Oakland Athletics still rank near the bottom of the majors in most offensive categories, but the pitching has been good enough recently to push the team within a game of .500. The A’s have won four straight and are suddenly looking like a team that wants to contend for a playoff berth. The Seattle Mariners are one of the worst hitting teams as well and have not had quite as much luck with the pitching.

The Mariners took five of the first seven games against Oakland this season but dropped a series against the division rivals at Safeco Field late last month. Each of the three games in that set were one-run affairs, with the A’s outscoring Seattle 5-4 in the entire series. Oakland came from behind in the late innings to beat Boston Red Sox on Tuesday and Wednesday, getting strong contributions from Coco Crisp and Brandon Moss in each contest. The Mariners are coming off back-to-back losses and a 4-6 homestand.

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT (Seattle), CSCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Kevin Millwood (3-6, 4.00 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Tommy Milone (8-6, 3.73)

Millwood had to leave his last start against the A’s on June 27 with discomfort in his right groin, the same injury that knocked him out of a combined no-hitter on June 8. The veteran right-hander has not earned a win since May 23 and has posted a 6.39 ERA in three starts since becoming part of history on June 8.

Milone is 5-1 with a 0.99 ERA in six home starts this season but has taken only one turn in Oakland since the beginning of June. The 25-year old left-hander was let down by his defense in a loss at Texas last weekend, allowing six runs - one earned - and six hits in five innings. Milone was better at Seattle on June 25, going seven scoreless innings and striking out five to pick up a win.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Mariners sent struggling RH Hector Noesi to the minors on Thursday and recalled OF Carlos Peguero from Triple-A.

2. Oakland’s starters have posted a 1.89 ERA in the last 20 games.

3. Moss has 10 home runs in 24 games since joining the A’s and has driven in at least one run in four straight.