(Sports Network) - The Baltimore Orioles will try to extend their season high winning streak to five games when they kick off a three-game series versus the Oakland Athletics at Camden Yards.
The Orioles are coming off a three-game sweep of the local Washington Nationals in DC and made it four wins in a row with Sunday's 4-3 triumph thanks to Miguel Tejada's RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Adam Jones and Scott Moore both knocked in runs for the Orioles, who are 4-2 on a nine-game homestand.
"Another good effort by the club," O's interim manager Juan Samuel told the team's site. "We've seen basically the same kind of ballgame here for the last three days. The team is not quitting, coming back from being down. So it's very nice. Guys are feeling good about that. We're certainly enjoying it."
David Hernandez picked up the win by getting the final two outs in the eighth inning, while Alfredo Simontossed a scoreless ninth for his ninth save. Jeremy Guthrie did not factor in the outcome after he allowed three runs and three hits in six innings for Baltimore, which hasn't won five in a row since June 17-21, 2009.
The Orioles will send Brian Matusz to the hill on Tuesday and he is 0-8 with a 5.11 earned run average in his last 12 starts. Matusz, who opened the year 2-0 in his first three starts, was battered by Florida the last time out in a 7-5 loss last Wednesday. He allowed six runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings, falling to 2-8 in 15 starts to go along with a 4.95 ERA.
The young lefty lost to Oakland back on May 26 at Camden Yards and was reached for six runs and eight hits in five innings of his team's 6-1 setback. He is 1-1 with a 7.15 ERA in two career starts against the A's.
Oakland enters this series fresh off a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates and recorded a 3-2 win in Sunday's series finale. Kurt Suzuki put the Athletics ahead for good with a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning and Craig Breslow struck out two in a scoreless eighth inning for the win. Andrew Bailey then earned his 14th save in the ninth.
"I got a little lucky there in the last inning," Bailey said. "Kind of a weird game, all in all. Suzuki picked us up, and it's nice to get out of here with three wins to end the series."
A's starter Gio Gonzalez yielded a run on four hits in six-plus innings of work in the no-decision. Oakland had lost seven of eight games before breaking out the brooms on the Buccos.
Still searching for his first victory since a perfect game on Mother's Day, Oakland starter Dallas Braden will take the hill on Tuesday. Braden is 0-5 with a 4.31 earned run average in eight starts since setting down theTampa Bay Rays in order back on May 9.
Braden dropped his most recent start last Tuesday in a 4-2 loss versus Cincinnati, as he yielded four runs -- three earned -- and 10 hits through six innings. The left-hander, who is 1-3 in six road starts this season, did not factor in the outcome of a 5-1 loss at Baltimore on May 25. He gave up one unearned run that day over four innings and is 5-1 lifetime with a 1.41 ERA in seven games (6 starts) against the O's.
Overall, Braden is 4-7 with a 3.83 ERA in 15 starts this season.
Oakland has won five of seven meetings with Baltimore this season and is 15-3 in the previous 18 contests between the clubs.