WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — David Festa fell behind 2-0 to four of the first six batters he faced on Thursday. All four of them scored, three coming on a Max Muncy home run. But he settled down in the second inning and, it seemed, for a brief second, as if he could be on the Zebby Matthews path.

Festa, who has struck out 15 batters and posted a 1.38 ERA in 13 MLB innings, is expected to face the Athletics in the series finale.