Infield uncertainty hovers over clash between Giants, A's

The Athletics and San Francisco Giants hope to have their hot-hitting infielders back in the lineup Wednesday night when they continue a three-game interleague series in San Francisco.

The Giants opened the set with a 3-1 victory on Tuesday in a game in which both the A's Zack Gelof and San Francisco's Luis Arraez had to exit prematurely.

Gelof, who began the night with a 24-game hitting streak, got spiked on the back of his right hand while applying a tag on the Giants' Matt Chapman at second base in the second inning. He was immediately removed from the game, having already batted once and flying out to right field on the game's third pitch.

As a result, Gelof lost his hitting streak, which had been the longest in the majors. He was replaced by Jeff McNeil, who went 0-for-3 out of the leadoff spot.

Afterward, A's manager Mark Kotsay felt worse about the lost hitting streak than the bloody mess.

"Just a laceration. No stitches required. Some swelling, but no fracture," he reported to the media. "That's a positive outcome for that situation. That's unfortunate for him with the hitting streak."

Kotsay kept the door open for Gelof to return before series' end, should the swelling subside.

In the meantime, it likely will be the left-handed-hitting McNeil -- a two-time All-Star and former National League batting champion with the New York Mets -- getting the call at second base for A's.

On Wednesday, Giants right-hander Tyler Mahle (1-7, 6.04 ERA) will make his first start since May 26, a 7-5 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks that was his fourth consecutive defeat over a six-game span. He hasn't won since a 3-0 triumph over the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 22.

One of those losses came at the hands of the A's, a 5-2 Giants defeat in West Sacramento, Calif., on May 15 in which Mahle served up 10 hits and five runs in five innings. He's lost all three of his career starts against the A's despite pitching to a 3.71 ERA in those games.

The A's are expected to counter with rookie left-hander Gage Jump (3-1, 2.37), who has never faced Giants.

The 23-year-old has made five starts. He allowed four runs in five innings in his major-league debut against the Mariners in May, a game the A's lost 4-1. Since then, he hasn't lost, going 3-0 while giving up just a total of four runs 25 1-3 innings.

As is the case with Kotsay and Gelof, Giants manager Tony Vitello expects a game-time decision on Arraez. A three-time batting champion, Arraez was pulled from the series opener after four innings due to pain in his right foot, the result of a foul ball in his first at-bat in the bottom of the first inning. He remained in the game long enough to bat twice, going 1-for-2 to increase his season average to .321.

"A little sore," Vitello informed reporters after Tuesday's win. "By now, everybody knows the player and the passion he plays with. He always wants to be out there. The good thing is he's also honest with us.

"It was tightening up. He needed to come out."

Vitello had to complete a balancing act to replace Arraez, inserting Jonah Cox into center field while moving Drew Gilbert from center to left and Casey Schmitt from left to second base. Cox took over Arraez's slot atop the lineup, striking out twice.

- Field Level Media