A’s and Giants to start Bay Bridge Series

A’s and Giants to start Bay Bridge Series

The Bay Bridge Series finds its two teams doing well as the All-Star break approaches.

The A’s (55-33) are on fire, not only winning games on the field but also making great trades such as the recent acquisition of Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. As for San Francisco (49-39), the team is contending despite the fact it was nearly 10 games up a month ago.

Nevertheless, the upcoming four-game, two-city interleague series has both teams champing at the bit.

A’s manager Bob Melvin said, “We have a bit of a rivalry going here, so it always seems like it’s a different atmosphere. I’m on record saying that I’ve been caught up in it the last several years. Something that I look forward to.”

He added, “It seems like we played them 10 times in spring, and then we have the Bay Bridge Series, and how well they’ve done in recent years and this year again, so it’s spirited to begin with. I think with both teams doing well to this point, it kind of adds to it.”

Starting for the A’s is Jesse Chavez (6-5, 3.23), who last week allowed five runs in five innings to Detroit. Chavez said, “We got the lead in the first, and I gave it back. That’s the biggest thing. As a starter, when you get the lead, you want to hang on to it.”

The Giants are starting Ryan Vogelsong (5-5, 3.86 ERA), who has pitched well his last three games despite no run support.

Vogelsong said, “Those guys, they’ll start swinging it. You go through this stuff. You either get through it and get stronger or you don’t get through it and you finish in last.”

With a money line of +131, it’s hard not to take Vogelsong and the Giants to surprise their Bay Bridge neighbors in the opener.