(Sports Network) - Brett Anderson hopes to finish his campaign on a winning note this evening when theOakland Athletics continue their season-ending four-game series against the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
Anderson, an 11-game winner as a rookie last season, has endured an injury- plagued 2010 and is just 6-6 with a 2.91 earned run average in 18 starts. However, he has won his last three decisions and has allowed more than two earned runs just once in his last six starts.
Anderson beat the Mariners the last time he faced them and is 4-3 in nine career starts against them with a 2.10 ERA.
The A's can only hope Anderson can deliver the way Trevor Cahill did on Friday. Cahill tossed seven scoreless frames and Daric Barton hit two home runs, including a grand slam, and drove in a career-high six runs to power Oakland to a 9-0 win.
Cahill (18-8) allowed five hits, walked two and struck out six to become the first Athletics pitcher to win more than 17 games in a season since 2002.
Henry Rodriguez and Ross Wolf each tossed an inning to complete the six-hit shutout for the visitors, who lead the season series, 11-6.
Barton finished 3-for-4, while Rajai Davis was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, two walks and an RBI. Cliff Pennington chipped in with two hits, two runs and an RBI for the A's, who have won two straight after a six-game slide.
Luke French (5-7) took the loss after getting belted for eight runs on eight hits and a pair of walks while striking out three over four frames for the Mariners, who were shut out for the 15th time this season.
"It was a tough night for Frenchy, a couple of home runs put us in a big hole and he wasn't able to do much to try to come out of it," Seattle manager Daren Brown said. "I thought his command wasn't as good as it's been. He was a little up in the zone and behind in the count and paid for it tonight."
Seattle will pin its hopes tonight on righty David Pauley, who is 4-8 with a 3.98 ERA. Pauley won his second straight start following a four-decision losing streak on Monday in Texas, as he held the American League West champions to a pair of runs in six innings.
"Put in a good mix tonight. My sinker was really good and my changeup was probably the best it's been all year. We kept guys off-balance," Pauley said.
This will be his first-ever appearance against the A's.
The A's have won 11 of 17 bouts with Seattle this season, but the Mariners have split their eight matchups against Oakland at Safeco Field in 2010.