New York @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2012 ) NY Yankees 2, Oakland 3

With the luxury of the largest division lead in the majors, the New York Yankees can afford two-game losing streak from time to time. The Yankees, like every other team that comes to town, has had trouble scoring runs at the Oakland Athletics. New York had a 10-game streak of scoring at least five runs snapped in a 4-3 loss in Thursday’s opener and had a franchise-record 43-game streak of at least three runs snapped on Friday, 3-2.

The Athletics are a season-high five games over .500 (49-44) thanks to an unheralded pitching staff that has the top ERA in the American League. The Oakland staff is even better at home, posting a 2.89 ERA at O.co Coliseum. That staff is supported by an improving offense that comes on late. Friday marked the league-leading 10th walk-off win for the A’s. The Yankees swept a three-game set here from May 25-27 but are now going up against an Oakland squad with legitimate playoff aspirations and plenty of confidence. New York is still 5-3 since the All-Star break and owns an eight-game lead in the AL East.

TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, YES (New York), CSCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Phil Hughes (9-7, 4.22 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (6-4, 3.16)

Hughes was held out of the win column on Monday despite limiting the Toronto Blue Jays to two runs on four hits in seven innings. The 26-year old right-hander has gone at least seven innings while allowing two runs or less in three of his last four starts. Hughes has never lost to the A’s in seven games - four starts - despite posting a 6.08 ERA against them in his career.

Parker had a string of four straight starts allowing one or no runs from June 14-July 2 but has been knocked around in his last two turns, yielding a total of 10 runs on 15 hits in 10 2/3 innings. The 23-year old surrendered only four home runs in 91 total innings and is at his best at home, where he owns a 2-2 record with a 2.45 ERA. Parker has never faced the Yankees.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland LF Yoenis Cespedes is batting .586 (17-for-29) with seven runs scored in seven games since the All-Star break, including 6-for-8 in two games against New York.

2. The last time the A’s were five games over .500 was April 17, 2010. They have not been six games above the break-even point since July 18, 2008.

3. Yankees RF Nick Swisher suffered a mild hip flexor strain on Friday and is day-to-day.