OAKLAND, Calif. — It’s seldom easy for hitters to face a knuckleball pitcher, especially one who’s on a hot streak.
That’s the challenge facing the Oakland Athletics on Saturday against Atlanta Braves knuckleballer R.A. Dickey in second game of a three-game series at the Oakland Coliseum.
In three of his past four starts, Dickey has allowed one or no runs and pitched at least seven innings. He has won back-to-back starts, beating San Francisco and Milwaukee.
He held the Giants scoreless on three hits over seven innings on June 19 in a 9-0 win. Then on Saturday, Dickey gave up one run on five hits against the Brewers in a 6-5 victory.