Diamondbacks at Athletics
The Arizona Diamondbacks turned to the top four batters in their lineup to end their seven-game slide and hope the production continues Saturday, when they visit the Oakland Athletics for the middle contest of their three-game interleague set. Arizona posted just its second win in 15 games, a 7-1 victory in the series opener that came after it began its nine-game road trip with six losses.
David Peralta, Nick Ahmed, John Ryan Murphy and Paul Goldschmidt combined to go 7-for-18 with a homer, six RBIs and four runs scored for the Diamondbacks, who registered four runs and 10 hits during a three-game sweep in Milwaukee during the week. Goldschmidt doubled and tripled for his first multi-hit performance since going 3-for-5 at Philadelphia on April 26. Oakland recorded only five hits in Friday's setback as it fell to 1-3 on its 10-game homestand. Mark Canha drove in the lone run for the Athletics as he went deep to end his eight-game home-run drought.
TV: 4:05 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Clay Buchholz (0-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (4-4, 3.30)
Buchholz made his 2018 debut on Sunday and settled for a no-decision at New York despite limiting the Mets to one run and two hits in five innings of his third start since 2016. The 33-year-old Texan had not pitched in the majors since April 11, 2017, when he was tagged by New York for six runs and eight hits over 2 1/3 frames in his second and final turn for Philadelphia. Buchholz has posted a 6.85 ERA but owns a 4-2 record in nine career starts against Oakland.
Mengden is coming off back-to-back road victories, including an outing at Toronto on Sunday in which he allowed just two hits and a walk over seven scoreless innings. The 25-year-old, who also hails from the Lone Star State, has not fared well at home as he is 1-11 with a 5.13 ERA in 17 career turns at Oakland Coliseum. Mengden has yet to face Arizona but is 3-3 with his lone complete game - a shutout - and a 3.74 ERA in seven interleague starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics RHP Santiago Casilla exited Friday's contest with a strained right shoulder and likely will be placed on the disabled list.
2. Arizona OF Chris Owings was the only player in the starting lineup without a hit in the opener and is 0-for-20 over his last five games.
3. Oakland traded Wilmer Font to Tampa Bay on Friday for fellow RHP Peter Bayer.