Athletics at White Sox
The Oakland Athletics got a lot of mileage out of the long ball as they completed a two-game interleague sweep of the San Diego Padres to kick off a 10-game road trip. Riding a four-game winning streak, the Athletics look to keep the momentum going when they visit the skidding Chicago White Sox on Thursday in the opener of a four-game set.
Oakland cracked back-to-back homers in back-to-back innings Wednesday and went deep five times overall in Wednesday's 12-4 rout, ignited by Franklin Barreto's early three-run blast. In the series opener, the Athletics were one strike from defeat before getting a tying solo shot from Stephen Piscotty and a two-run homer from Jed Lowrie in a 10-inning victory. While Oakland is surging, the White Sox are mired in an ugly spiral, matching their longest losing streak of the season with a seven-game slid. Chicago was hammered at Cleveland 12-0 in the finale of a three-game series and was outscored 24-5 by the Indians to drop a season-worst 25 games below .500.
TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), NBCS Chicago-Plus
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (0-2, 2.45 ERA) vs. White Sox RH Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.19)
Bassitt was unable to build on his strong season debut, lasting four innings and giving up six runs (two earned) on seven hits in an 8-4 defeat to the Los Angeles Angels. He was a hard-luck loser against Kansas City on June 9 despite limiting the Royals to one run on three hits over seven innings. Bassitt broke in with the White Sox in 2014, going 1-1 with a 3.94 ERA in six appearances (five starts).
Giolito continues to be plagued by either control problems or the home run ball, giving up a pair of blasts while allowing five runs over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision versus Detroit last time out. He has allowed at least four runs in four of his last five starts, giving up seven homers and going 1-3 in that span. Giolito has never faced Oakland but is 1-4 with a 11.05 ERA in seven home starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics have homered in 21 consecutive road games, matching a franchise record set in 2013.
2. White Sox 1B Jose Abreu has nine homers and 24 RBIs in 29 career games versus the Athletics.
3. Oakland last hit back-to-back homers in consecutive innings in May 1997, when Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire were on the team.