=== Oakland Athletics Team Report - June 20 ===

(My Sportsbook) - A pair of Bay Area rivals begin the second cycle of interleague play tonight, when the Athletics and the San Francisco Giants battle at the Coliseum in Oakland.

The squads have become yearly combatants since the beginning of interleague play in 1997. Oakland gained control of the series last season, winning four of six meetings. The A's went 2-1 at home against the Giants and are 6-3 in home series tilts since the start of the 2000 campaign.

Oakland enters the series on a roll after sweeping a three-game set from the Texas Rangers. The Athletics have won a season-high six in a row overall, including a 9-2 victory on Thursday. Thanks to their hot play, the A's have pulled within 6 1/2 games of Seattle in the AL West.

Mark Mulder allowed two runs in seven innings to lead Oakland to the victory on Thursday. Mulder (10-4) surrendered 10 hits in his second straight win for the Athletics, who swept their second straight series. Mulder improved to 7-0 at home this year

Mulder improved to 8-4 in 14 career starts against the Rangers. He became the fastest Oakland pitcher to reach 10 wins since Bob Welch did it on June 15, 1990.

Miguel Tejada posted his first career five-hit game, including a homer, for the A's in the win. Eric Byrnes had two hits and drove in three runs, while Eric Chavez hit a three-run homer.

Oakland will send 25-year-old righthander Aaron Harang to the mound tonight. Harang is still looking for his first win of the year after posting a no- decision in his last start against Montreal. The righty surrendered eight hits and three runs (two earned) to the Expos. Harang has yet to pitch more than four innings in any of his three outings.

Harang was unsuccessful in his only career outing against the Giants, giving up four hits and five earned runs over four frames. The youngster will be appearing at home for the second time.