Billy Burns was forced to leave Friday’s game against the Giants due to a testicular contusion. He took several minutes to gather himself following the incident and finished the at-bat. He stayed in the game and had an RBI groundout in that at-bat, but was then lifted an inning later when he felt nauseous.

While the offense has carried the Giants surge with 64 runs scored in their last 10 games, A’s starter Chris Bassitt proved to be one of the few pitchers who could figure out San Francisco’s attack, as the righty posted a strong outing, allowing just two runs in six innings of work. Bumgarner is scheduled to make his fourth start against the A’s on Saturday, having gone just 1-2 in his first three efforts. He displayed a fastball in the mid 90’s and elevated it effectively when the situation called for it. He gave up five hits, struck out four and walked none. First pitch is scheduled for a 4:05 PM (Eastern) start time and the game will be televised locally. “They didn’t give in, they didn’t chase down, they didn’t expand the zone”. He struck out two and did not walk a batter.

Pagan was 3-for-4 with a walk after getting three hits in his previous 19 at-bats. 287 to. 323 while hitting safely in 20 of his last 21 games.

In Friday’s Oakland Athletics vs San Francisco Giants, the A’s enjoy a slight advantage having defeated their host in three in four games during each of the past two years.

Billy Burns of the Oakland Athletics is one tough nut.

Closer Sean Doolittle threw off flat ground for the first time in this rehabilitation stint for his strained left shoulder, and the plan is for him to throw a bullpen session off the mound Thursday. Giants manager Bruce Bochy said he expected Lincecum to pitch again this season…. He failed. Bochy instructed Aoki to return to Triple-A for at least two more injury-rehab games this weekend, after which he will be re-evaluated.

RHP Angel Castro was promoted to take the place of Leon, who pitched 3 1/3 innings in Thursday’s loss to Toronto…. It’s the third time in four starts that Bassitt has been on the losing end of a 2-1 game.

Nationals 9, Pirates 3 – Michael Taylor had a homer and three RBIs and Gio Gonzalez won his fourth straight decision to lead Washington over host Pittsburgh. Hudson, who was drafted by Oakland in 1997 and played his first six big-league seasons for the A’s, is 0-2 with a 9.58 ERA in two starts against his former team. Drawing the start in right over Josh Reddick against Bumgarner, Smolinski made an outstanding play on Brandon Crawford’s fifth-inning drive off the right field wall.

LHP Madison Bumgarner hasn’t fared particularly well in his matchups with the Giants’ cross-bay rival, the Oakland Athletics.

The rookie right-hander, 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA on the road, has never faced any Giants hitters.