Friday, June 21, 2002
Athletics-Reds series preview
Where: Cinergy Field.
When: 7:10 p.m. today, 7:10 p.m. Saturday and 1:15 p.m. Sunday.
Radio: WLW-AM (700).
TV: Fox Sports Net Saturday and Sunday.
Records: Reds 38-32, second place in the NL Central; Athletics 40-31, third place AL West.
The arms: Today, Jimmy Haynes (7-6, 4.56) vs. Aaron Harang (2-2, 2.70); Saturday, Bruce Chen (2-3, 6.58) vs. Barry Zito (9-2, 3.01); Sunday, Chris Reitsma (3-4, 3.39) vs. Mark Mulder (7-4, 4.46).
The bats: The Reds better find them. Fresh off a three-game sweep to the Mariners in which they totaled just three runs, they face the talented young staff of the A's. Oakland is 15-3 in its last 18 games and has won 12 of its last 13, allowing two or fewer runs in six of their last seven victories. Shortstop Miguel Tejada (.291, 14 HRs, 47 RBI) and third baseman Eric Chavez (.272, 17 HRs, 48 RBI) are the focal point of the offense now that Jason Giambi has joined the Yankees.
The rest: The A's are mounting a charge similar to last season when they overcame an 11-20 start to win 102 games and claim the AL wild-card berth. This season, the A's bottomed out at 20-26 before getting hot. This is the third time the Reds have faced Oakland. The A's won the 1972 World Series in seven games, and the Reds swept the 1990 World Series.
Reds Stories
What's next for U.S.?
Brazil 2, England 1
Donovan, O'Brien make Pele's all-star squad
Referees committee defends linesmen
World Cup schedule
Cyclones end Nashville agreement
Duff, Rakel ride nerves to Met final
Russell to lead Lebanon
Martin, Williams have surgery; Charlotte pursues franchise
NHL orders safety netting in wake of tragedy in Columbus
Theodore wins Vezina, Hart awards
Greene is healthy at track championships
Texas beats Stanford in CWS semi
Texas Tech reveals policy violations in Knight merchandise swap
Jaguars sign Marco Coleman
Quigley, Tanaka lead at Hartford
Coming up this week
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Athletics-Reds series preview
