The San Diego Padres are fresh off their first three-game sweep of the season as they open a three-game set against the host Oakland Athletics on Friday. San Diego hadnâ??t swept a series since last September before recording three straight wins in Seattle and now faces an Oakland squad that found Coors Field much to its liking. The Athletics scored 26 runs and hit nine homers in three games while sweeping the struggling Colorado Rockies.
Oakland has received an impressive boost from recent call-up Brandon Moss. The 28-year-old journeyman has hit five homers in eight games since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento and had three hits â?? including a homer â?? and three RBIs in Thursdayâ??s victory over the Rockies. Outfielder Josh Reddick hit his first homer since May 28 to raise his team-leading count to 15. San Diego is 4-2 on a nine-game road trip that concludes Sunday. The Padres were just 5-19 away from home prior to the excursion. San Diego remains in last place in the National League West but is just two games behind the fourth-place Rockies.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, Fox Sports San Diego, Comcast Sports California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Anthony Bass (2-6, 4.38 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Travis Blackley (0-2, 4.97)
Bass is 0-2 over his last five starts with his last victory coming May 15 against the Washington Nationals. He allowed four runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings while losing to the Milwaukee Brewers in his last outing. Bass has given up 19 earned runs in 21 innings over his last four starts. He has never faced Oakland.
Blackley is making his fourth start for Oakland and has lost back-to-back outings. He gave up four runs (three earned) and six hits in 4 2/3 innings while losing to the Arizona Diamondbacks in his last start. Blackleyâ??s longest start of the campaign is five innings. He has never pitched against San Diego.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Oakland is hoping OF Yoenis Cespedes will be able to serve as the designated hitter for the series after reinjuring his hamstring on Wednesday and sitting out Thursday.
2. San Diego OF Cameron Maybin is batting just .189 in road games this season.
3. Athletics OF Coco Crisp had a season-high three hits Thursday to raise his average to .186
