Giants at Athletics
The San Francisco Giants aren't prepared to wave the white flag yet as they send a hungry rookie to the mound to face the host Oakland Athletics on Sunday in the finale of their two-game interleague series. Logan Webb, who rooted for the Athletics while growing up some 100 miles from Oakland in Rocklin, Calif., makes his second major-league start after winning his debut for San Francisco.
"It was awesome. Everyone here wants to win. I want to win more than anything," Webb, who is considered the Giants' top pitching prospect, told reporters. "So if I can help out in any way possible, that's the main goal." San Francisco's postseason prospects aren't good as it trails the Chicago Cubs by five games for the second National League wild-card spot after defeating Oakland 10-5 on Saturday with an eight-run eighth inning. The Athletics' chances are much better as they sit one game behind Cleveland and one-half game back of Tampa Bay in what is shaping up to be a three-team battle for the two American League wild-card berths. Brett Anderson has lost four of his last five starts as he takes the mound Sunday for Oakland, which had won three straight contests and seven of its previous eight.
TV: 4:07 p.m. ET, NBCS Bay Area (San Francisco), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants RH Logan Webb (1-0, 1.80 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Brett Anderson (10-9, 4.06)
Webb allowed two runs (one earned), five hits and one walk while registering seven strikeouts in five innings of an 11-6 victory at Arizona on Aug. 17. The 22-year-old, who was a fourth-round pick in the 2014 draft, posted a 1.85 ERA in 12 games (10 starts) at three minor-league levels this season before his promotion. "I really can't wait for it," NBCS California announcer Mike Krukow told reporters about Webb's next start. "I think he's that type of guy. He's got a football background. He was a quarterback. And he has that mentality where he just charges. And I love the fact that he handled the adrenaline."
Anderson left with a blister after allowing four runs, seven hits and four walks in five innings of a 4-1 loss to Houston on Aug. 18. The 31-year-old Texan's three previous starts were all of the quality variety, but he lost two of them as Oakland has provided only eight runs of support in his last four setbacks. Buster Posey is 7-for-23 with three doubles against Anderson, who is 2-5 with a 4.58 ERA in 11 starts against the Giants after allowing two runs in six innings of a 3-2 loss in San Francisco on Aug. 13.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Giants' Bruce Bochy on Sunday will manage his 4,000 game. Only seven others - Connie Mack (7,755 games), Tony La Russa (5,097), John McGraw (4,769), Bobby Cox (4,508), Bucky Harris (4,410), Joe Torre (4,329) and Sparky Anderson (4,030) - have reached the milestone and all are in the Hall of Fame.
2. Oakland 1B Mark Canha has gone 14-for-32 with three home runs and nine RBIs during an eight-game hitting streak after belting a solo shot among his two hits Saturday.
3. San Francisco activated RHP Shaun Anderson from the 10-day injured list and optioned LHP Andrew Suarez to Triple-A Sacramento. Anderson allowed one run, one hit and two walks in two-thirds of an inning on Saturday.