Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Paul Blackburn (58) delivers a pitch in the first inning of their baseball game against the Cleveland Indians at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, June 29, 2018. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)

On the MLB The Show podcast with Matt:

Good pitching beats good hitting everytime and the Oakland A’s reliever Blake Treinen. whose ERA is 0.89, got his 21st save in a 3-1 win over Cleveland on Friday. Treinen came in relief for A’s starter Paul Blackburn, who lasted 6.1 innings, no runs, three hits, five strike outs, and one walk.

The A’s have jelled, winning five straight and 11 of 13. They also have showed signs of improving their home record taking two of the first three from Cleveland on this current homestand where they had previously struggled at home. The A’s and Mariners are going hot–both teams with five-game win streaks and could very well give the Astros a run if they continue to win games.

The New York Yankees tied for first with a win over the Boston Red Sox on Friday with a convincing 8-1 win behind the pitching effort of CC Sabthia. The Yanks and Sox continue the series tonight.

Finally, the Giants are considering using veteran Jeff Samardzjia as a closer. Samardzjia is coming back from pectoral tightness and might fill a void as the Giants’ closers have coughed up loses that put the Giants in second for the most blown saves in the big leagues this season.

Matt Harrington does the MLB The Show podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com