Good defense helps Hahn feel welcome

Jesse Hahn is evidently feeling much better.

A day after coming off the disabled list, the A’s right-hander who had been sidelined with a strained triceps didn’t allow an earned run in six innings to headline a 4-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

The performance was a longawaited bright spot for Hahn (2-4), who had endured a threeweek stretch featuring pain — physical as well as on the field. Prior to his stint on the DL, he’d allowed eight runs and 12 hits in seven innings in losses to the Mariners and Marlins, and he was in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

Hahn returned with what he termed the best stuff he’s had in nine starts in 2017.

“I thought that might have been the best sinker I’ve had all year,” he said.

Said catcher Stephen Vogt: “His curveball was as good as I think it’s been all year.”

And then there was his fastball. Hahn went on the DL amid concerns about his velocity. But his heater hovered around 93-94 mph, a welcome uptick.

“That was encouraging,” Hahn said. “The first fastball I threw of the game I had to peek up there (to the scoreboard). And once you see that, it’s kind of a relief.”

Hahn faced Toronto for the first time in his four-year career. He scattered seven hits, walked one and had two strikeouts in his 92-pitch, 52-strike outing.

Hahn, who lowered his ERA to 3.40, would have exited without surrendering a run if not for another error by the defensively challenged A’s.

Oakland has a MLB-high 59 errors, which is 17 more the runner-up Dodgers. The A’s are on pace for 165 errors, which would be the most this century: The 2001 Padres (145 errors) have the most since 2000.

The error Tuesday came in the fourth inning when third baseman Ryon Healy made an errant throw to first base that allowed Jose Bautista to reach safely. Bautista scored on a single by shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, which was the MLBleading 41st unearned run allowed by Oakland this season.

However, the miscue also came on a night in which the A’s defense sparkled.

In the second inning, Healy charged in to make a bare-handed snag of a dribbler that eluded Hahn and easily threw out Tulowitzki at first base. In the third inning, first baseman Yonder Alonso threw to Vogt, who tagged out Ryan Goins. Toronto’s second baseman was trying to score from second base on an infield single by Josh Donaldson.

In the fifth, right fielder Chad Pinder’s strike to shortstop Adam Rosales easily cut down Kevin Pillar, who tried to stretch a single into a double. Oakland also turned two double plays; the second prevented the Blue Jays from doing more damage in the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out in a 1-1 game, Goins’ grounder to Jed Lowrie began a 4-6-3 double play.

“When he needed to get a groundball, he got it, and none bigger than the one with the bases loaded,” manager Bob Melvin said of Hahn. “If he gives up a hit there, it’s a whole different ballgame. … That was probably the key at-bat of the game for him.”

On Tuesday, the A’s won without a home run for just the second time this season. They have the most home runs (86) through 58 games in franchise history, but Tuesday it was Hahn who provided the power.

“Thankfully,” Vogt said, “he’s back and healthy and feeling good.”