Chapman’s defense outshines 2 homers

ARLINGTON, Texas — No A’s player has logged more games this year than Matt Chapman. That in mind, manager Bob Melvin said, Saturday was targeted as an off-day for the third baseman. Plans changed with shortstop Elvis Andrus away on paternity leave and Josh Harrison nursing a quad strain, thinning the A’s infield ranks.

Melvin wrote Chapman’s name into the lineup, as usual. Omitting it is always difficult given the defense Chapman plays. This road trip he has also been a regular on the basepaths. His offense has hovered below his standard much of this season. He made an impact in both areas in an 8-3 win in Texas.

Chapman hit two of Oakland’s five solo home runs. But his most eye-popping moment occurred on defense. The A’s led 2-1 when Yohel Pozo opened Texas’ fifth inning with a single. Brock Holt then lofted a pop-up into shallow left field. Chapman, shaded in, took off running.

He reached the outfield grass with his back toward the plate. Tracking the ball as it carried over his head, Chapman snapped his glove across. He caught the baseball going into a headfirst slide.

“I’ve seen him do some miraculous things,” Melvin said. “But when that ball is hit, I mean, it’s a hit. I don’t know that anybody else gets to that.”

“The best catch I’ve ever seen in a game I’ve been a part of,” pitcher James Kaprielian said.

“Definitely got to be one of the best plays I’ve ever made in my life,” said Chapman, a two-time Platinum Glove recipient. “They all think it’s the best play I’ve ever made. I’ve got to believe it’s up there for sure. But it just feels good to make plays like that.”

Isiah Kiner-Falefa then struck a sharp grounder to Chapman, who used it to start a double play. Chapman had also helped Kaprielian navigate a third inning that began with two Texas singles, making a sliding catch of Yonny Hernandez’s bunt try and a charging play on an Adolis Garcia chopper.

“That’s the best third baseman in the game in my opinion and he shows everybody day to day why,” Kaprielian said.

Kaprielian took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth. Jed Lowrie lined a two-out RBI single in the first. In the second, Chapman fell behind Jordan Lyles 0-2 and worked a full count. Lyles tried a slider. Chapman sent it 413 feet into the left-field seats. Matt Olson drove his 30th homer in the sixth. As in 2019, Olson’s other season with 30plus homers, he reached the mark in his 111th game.

Three Rangers singles to begin Texas’ half of the sixth made it 3-2 and chased Kaprielian. Former A’s catcher Jonah Heim added a sacrifice fly against Andrew Chafin. The tie was short-lived. Mitch Moreland led off the seventh with a homer off Lyles — who stayed in to face Chapman. Chapman got another slider and hit a 407-foot home run.

Chapman awoke Saturday with the AL’s fourth-lowest batting average at .214. In five games on this trip, he has reached base in 14 of 22 plate appearances, nine of those via walks.

“If he starts going offensively here the last 40 games or whatever we could be a different team,” Melvin said. “Games like this could potentially be a springboard.”

Seth Brown added Oakland’s fifth solo shot in the eighth. Chapman’s multi-homer game was his first this season. His second blast was a landmark — the 100th of his major-league career.

“I feel like I’ve been taking good at-bats the last few days and seeing the ball a lot better,” said Chapman. “To be able to be in the big leagues long enough to hit 100 homers feels really good. And hopefully it’s the first of many milestones.”