A’S CONTINUE HOT STREAK
ARLINGTON, Texas — As hot as the weather was in at Globe Life Park, the A’s bats were even hotter.
On a day where the temperature at first pitch was 99 degrees, the A’s offense exploded in Monday’s 153 blowout win over the Rangers.
With the Rangers sitting dead last in the American League West standings, Cole Hamels has been the subject of many trade rumors with the July 31 deadline approaching. The A’s may have decreased his trade value.
A second inning which saw the A’s bat around the order for five runs was highlighted by power from the unlikeliest of sources. Jonathan Lucroy, who entered the night with one home run this season, blasted a 2-1 cutter from Hamels into center field with the bases loaded for a grand slam.
Stephen Piscotty, the A’s hottest hitter over the past two weeks, later tagged Hamels for a two-run home run into the left field bleachers in the fifth, giving the A’s a 7-2 lead. Piscotty finished the day 2 for 4 with walk and three RBIs, also doubling in a run in the seventh. The right fielder is now batting .304 over his last 15 games with six home runs, eight doubles, and 16 RBIs.
Hamels finished his night tying a season-high seven runs allowed over five innings of work, but the A’s didn’t stop there.
Matt Chapman ended his power drought in the seventh by crushing a 2-2 changeup from Matt Moore into the left field seats for a three-run homer. It was Chapman’s 11th home run of the year, his first since June 10, and a laser shot that had an exit velocity clocked at 115 mph.
Khris Davis added a solo shot in the eighth, his 24th of the season and third in the past two games,
as the A’s continue to be the most powerful offensive team on the road. Their 89 home runs away from Oakland are by far the most in the majors, as are their 296 runs scored.
Things got so bad, the Rangers even used position players Carlos Tocci and Ryan Rua to pitch the final two innings of the game.
It was plenty of support for Brett Anderson, the left-hander who might be on the bubble with his roster spot. Anderson has struggled lately, with Daniel Mengden lurking in the minors and ready to return to the rotation from a foot injury. Monday’s start may have helped his cause.
Anderson pitched around traffic a few innings to finish with a quality start. His only blemish was a two-run home run surrendered to Elvis Andrus in the third, as he allowed just two runs on six hits and a walk with six strikeouts over six innings of work. He improved to 2-2 on the year, lowering his ERA to 5.46 in seven starts this season.
With the Mariners idle Monday, the A’s win put the just 2 1/2 games back of Seattle for the second AL wildcard spot.