Yankee Stadium can't intimidate A's rookies

NEW YORK -- The A's don't want to get caught looking in the new "House that Ruth built" over the weekend. With 13 games left, this is not a time for distractions, as the Yankees will be a dangerous adversary for an A's team that is trying to lock down a postseason berth for the first time since 2006. The A's have 17 players that have never played in New York. It is an intimidating place for a rookie to take the field, but the ultra loose Athletics insist that they aren't concerned. "It's just something you have to experience," A's manager Bob Melvin said on Thursday. "I know it will be exciting for all of them." "It's going to be awesome to be able to go there and experience it for the first time," Josh Donaldson added after Thursday's game. "I've never been to New York. I'm really excited it's one of the few places I haven't been."All three of the A's pitchers in the series against the Yankees have never stepped on the mound in Yankee Stadium. Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin are rookies, and Travis Blackley, who starts on Saturday is a journeyman pitcher. The sentiment is that all playing surfaces are the same between the lines. "I haven't thought about it, but we've been rolling with pitchers in big spots all season long," Seth Smith said. "It's Yankee Stadium, it's fine, but once the baseball game starts it's game one hundred and forty something so it's not like it's anything new." Blackley will be making a spot start as Melvin believes the lefty is a more favorable match up against the Yankees' power hitters, especially with the short porch in right field. The Australian-born pitcher admits he is excited for the opportunity. "As a kid growing up that was who you pictured yourself pitching against, the Yankees," Blackley said. "It's going to be one of those dreams come true again. I look forward to it." The A's pitching staff will have its work cut out for them. The Yankees have a .630 (46-29) home winning percentage, which ranks them third in the American League. They rank second in the American League with 720 runs, and lead Major League Baseball with 220 home runs. Oakland's starting rotation is young but they have held their own. "It's a talented bunch of guys that have pitched every where at this point they just haven't pitched in Yankee Stadium," Melvin said. "Fenway Park can be that way as well and our guys pitched well there."The A's enter the series tied atop the Wild Card standings and four games behind the Rangers in the American League West. They lost two of three games in Detroit but salvaged the series with an imperative 12-4 win over the Tigers on Thursday. "To give us momentum going into New York especially after the last two games it is nice to have that offensive explosion," Tommy Milone said. Oakland's magic number to clinch a spot in the Wild Card playoff game is nine. They insist they are focused on winning the division though, and they have seven games remaining against the division-leading Rangers. Oakland has fared well against the Bronx Bombers this season, they swept them over a four-game series in Oakland in July. They lead the season series with the Yankees 4-3. Pitching Probables:Friday:Jarrod Parker (11-8, 3.51 ERA) vs. CC Sabathia (13-6, 3.63 ERA)Saturday:Travis Blackley (5-3, 3.36 ERA) vs. Ivan Nova (4.85 ERA)Sunday:A.J. Griffin (6-1, 2.45 ERA) vs. Hiroki Kuroda (14-10, 3.26 ERA)