Oakland (44-35) is 38-28 against San Francisco (34-46) since the inception of interleague play in 1997. The Athletics are 18-6 in the intrastate series since July 3, 2004, winning seven straight and 10 of the last 11 matchups.

Oakland's seven-game streak in the series is the longest in the Bay Area rivalry. During this stretch, the A's have outscored the Giants 31-8, shutting them out three times while posting a 1.13 ERA.

Dana Eveland limited San Francisco to one run and five hits in 7 1-3 innings, and Jack Hannahan had two RBIs in Oakland's 4-1 victory Friday.

"It hasn't gone well, we know it," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. "Some things are hard to explain, but you look at how well they're pitching: They're shutting us down and that's where it all starts - on the mound. They've gotten good pitching all year."

Oakland boasts a major league-leading 3.35 ERA, and San Francisco can expect to see another strong starter in Duchscherer (8-4, 1.99 ERA).

The right-hander, who has won five of his last six outings, has won a career-high four straight starts - all in June. The converted reliever has pitched into the seventh inning in each game, limiting opponents to six hits or fewer per outing.

On Sunday, he held Florida to one run and six hits in 7 2-3 innings of a 7-1 home victory.

"He makes you feel good every time he goes out there," manager Bob Geren told the Athletics' official Web site.

The All-Star hopeful leads the AL in ERA among pitchers with at least 12 starts, and is 6-0 with a 1.52 ERA in six home starts.

This will be his first start versus the Giants, though he is 1-0 with a 2.16 ERA and one save in five relief appearances against them.

San Francisco will try to avoid a third straight loss behind Tim Lincecum (8-1, 2.54).

The right-hander hasn't received a decision in his last three starts - a stretch in which he has given up nine runs and 18 hits while striking out 20 in 19 innings.

While he fanned eight his last time out, Lincecum also gave up five runs and six hits in five innings - his shortest start of the season - as the Giants lost 11-10 to Kansas City on Sunday.

"It was a lack of focus on my part," said Lincecum, who also had two walks and two wild pitches. "I've just got to find a way to get the job done and minimize the damage."

Lincecum is 6-0 with a 2.10 ERA in nine road starts this season, but has never pitched in Oakland.

He didn't receive a decision versus the Athletics on June 8, 2007, yielding three runs, four hits and five walks in 4 1-3 innings of a 5-3, 10-inning home loss.

Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez and outfielder Ryan Sweeney sat out Friday with a tender right shoulder and a sprained ankle, respectively. Both are day-to-day, but likely will miss the rest of this series.