A’s Laureano hits first MLB homers in win over Rangers

OAKLAND — Much has been made about Ramon Laureano’s defense over his first two weeks in the big leagues, and rightfully so after some insane plays in center field for the Oakland Athletics. But the kid showed he’s also got some pop.

Apparently Laureano likes to hit homers in bunches, hitting his first two big league home runs in the same night during Monday’s 9-0 victory over the Texas Rangers in front of 9,341 fans at the Coliseum.

Laureano was only 2 years old when Bartolo Colon made his major league debut in 1994, but now the two will be linked forever as the 45-year-old veteran surrendered both home runs to the rookie outfielder. The first came in the second inning, an impressive opposite field tworun shot over the wall in right field. Homer No. 2 came in the sixth as he sent an 0-1 changeup from Colon into the left field bleachers for a three-run shot that broke the game open by putting the A’s ahead by seven.

Laureano became the 10th A’s player to hit his first two big league home runs in the same game, and he joined some recent good company. Matt Chapman and Matt Olson both accomplished the same feat last year.

The two home runs by Laureano were only a small piece of the huge explosion from the A’s offense, which clobbered four home runs on the night. Stephen Piscotty homered in the seventh, and Khris Davis launched his 37th homer of the year in the third.

Davis has hit some majestic bombs over the past few seasons with the A’s but this one was truly impressive. He obliterated a 3-1 fastball from Davis that was estimated at 431 feet and bounced off a luxury suite window out in deep left-center, a place where no spectator should expect to come close to a home run ball.

This was way more than enough run support for Mike Fiers, who continues to shine since his acquisition in a trade from the Detroit Tigers.

Fiers got through a shaky first two innings by retiring the final 18 batters he faced in a row, finishing the night allowing just one hit and one walk with eight strikeouts over seven innings of shutout ball. The right-hander has allowed just three runs over his first three starts with the A’s, and lowered his ERA to 3.21 on the season.