The Oakland Athletics eye a fourth straight win on Wednesday when they continue their four-game, home-and-home series with the San Diego Padres at the Coliseum.
Oakland won the first two legs of this series in San Diego, including an exciting 6-5 victory on Tuesday. Eric Sogard's RBI single in the ninth proved to be the difference, as the A's spoiled the managerial debut of Padres interim skipper Pat Murphy.
Murphy had been the manager at the club's Triple-A affiliate in El Paso and took over a day after Bud Black was fired. Bench coach Dave Roberts guided the Padres on Monday in a 9-1 loss to Oakland.
The 56-year-old Murphy joined the Padres' organization in 2010 after a 15-year run as head baseball coach at Arizona State. He was in his third year as the club's Triple-A manager, compiling a record of 180-172.
"It's kind of neat for me to hand him his first loss," said Sogard, who played for Murphy at Arizona State. "It's a little bittersweet for him, I know. I texted him after the game."
San Diego sent Craig Kimbrel (1-2) to the mound in the ninth. Billy Burns worked a two-out walk, stole second and raced home on Sogard's hit up the middle.
Tyler Clippard struck out the side in the bottom half for his 10th save of the season. Oakland starter Scott Kazmir allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits with six strikeouts over five innings.
San Diego starter Andrew Cashner gave up five runs on five hits with three walks over five-plus innings.
Trying to stop a three-game slide for the Padres on Wednesday will be Cuban righty Omar Despaigne, who has lost four of his last five decisions and is 3-4 on the year with a 4.38 ERA.
Despaigne did not get a decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday, but pitched well, as he allowed two runs (1 earned) and six hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 4-3 loss.
Oakland will counter with reliever-turned-starter Jesse Chavez, who is also 1-4 in his last five decisions. Chavez was not a factor in his team's 5-4 loss on Friday, but left with the lead after he had surrendered three runs and seven hits in seven innings. He is 2-6 this season with a 2.64 ERA.
"(It's) either a lack of run support or we give it up after he comes out," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "It hasn't been the starters. That's not the issue. The starters have been the best in the American League this year."
This will be Chavez's first start versus the Padres, but he has faced them six times out of the bullpen and has pitched to a 5.06 ERA without recording a decision.
The A's won two of three meetings with the Padres in 2012 and are 7-2 in the last nine encounters between the teams.
[SportsNetwork.com]
