Los Angeles @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 16, 2011 ) LA Angels 3, Oakland 4

THE STORY: After playing the first scheduled doubleheader in eight years, the host Oakland Athletics and Los Angeles Angels will return to the traditional single-game variety Sunday. Los Angeles posted a 4-2 victory in the opener Saturday, while Oakland scratched for a 4-3 win in 10 innings in the nightcap. The Athletics have won two of three so far in the series, but have won only seven of their last 21 contests overall. Los Angeles has won 15 of its last 20.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, KCOP (Los Angeles), CS California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Joel Pineiro (5-3, 3.90 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Gio Gonzalez (8-6, 2.47).

After suffering three straight losses, Pineiro seems to have righted the ship with three consecutive victories. The 32-year-old Puerto Rico native permitted three runs and 10 hits in seven innings as the Angels posted a 9-3 triumph over the Seattle Mariners on July 9. Pineiro struggled in his last outing against the Athletics, allowing four runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings in a 4-3 loss May 26. Gonzalez saw his three-game winning streak come to an end following his worst outing of the season. The 25-year-old hurler permitted seven runs on as many hits in four innings in an 8-5 loss to the Texas Rangers on July 8. Gonzalez has won four of six career outings versus the Angels - including his last one May 17. He yielded only one hit and struck out seven over seven scoreless innings in a 14-0 rout.

ABOUT THE ANGELS (51-44): Mark Trumbo belted a two-run homer Saturday. Trumbo has 18 homers this season, which leads all rookies. Vernon Wells returned to the lineup after missing Friday's game with an illness and homered in the nightcap. Torii Hunter went 0-for-4 for the third straight game of this series. The veteran may see a repeat performance Sunday, considering he is 0-for-4 in his career against Gonzalez. Erick Aybar went 3-for-8 on Saturday and extended his hitting streak to nine games. He is 1-for-5 in his career versus Gonzalez.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (41-54): After snapping an 0-for-18 slump with a bunt single in the third inning of the nightcap, Scott Sizemore ended the contest with an RBI single in the 10th. Rookie Jemile Weeks had five hits Saturday - three in the opener and two in the nightcap. Josh Willingham, who leads the Athletics with 12 homers, is 2-for-6 in his career against Pineiro. Oakland's saving grace this season has been its play at home. The Athletics are 25-22 in front of its fans, but 16-32 on the road.

FINAL PITCH: “It’s a tough loss,” Hunter said following the nightcap. “Going 0-for-8, that’s not going to help the team."