Joyce plays leading role

Matt Joyce is really getting the hang of this leadoff thing.

The right fielder went 2for-3 in the A’s 4-3 victory over the Yankees on Sunday, continuing his torrid stretch hitting atop the Oakland lineup.

“That’s a key. … We’ve gotten some guys on base early in games, and that’s impactful,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “You want guys on base when your middle-of-the-order guys come up. I don’t know that you can do it any better than ( Joyce) did (Saturday, when Joyce was 3-for-3).

“It seems like he’s getting more comfortable with the leadoff spot. He’s certainly swinging the bat better. You know he’s going to get on base, so at this point, he seems to be a pretty good fit there.”

Joyce followed up Saturday’s effort, during which he reached safely in all five plate appearances, by reaching safely three times in four tries Sunday. He’s 7-for-10 with six walks and three runs in his past three games and sports a .512 on-base percentage during a 12-game span.

The left-handed hitter has batted at least once in all nine lineup spots this season, but his best numbers are at the top of the order. He entered Sunday with a .373 on-base percentage in 17 games, 201 points higher than his numbers in the No. 2 spot.

Judge carefully: Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge had just four hits with eight strikeouts during the four-game set in Oakland. Asked how to pitch to a hitter like Judge, Melvin joked: “Pretty carefully.”

“I’m not going to actually get into how we think you get him out, but it’s probably prudent not to do the same all the time, because he seems to be a pretty smart guy, too,” Melvin said. “He has a pretty good understanding of what works for him. You watch him take batting practice, and it’s not all pull power. It’s the other way. Like any good hitter, I think you need to mix it up some.”

Injury updates: Melvin said right-hander Andrew Triggs, who was placed on the disabled list June 10 with a strained left hip, will receive a cortisone shot. Though Kendall Graveman still isn’t ready to throw a bullpen session, Melvin said the righty, who has been on the DL with a strained throwing shoulder since May 26, is starting to show progress. “I feel like we’re on the other side of the inflammation and some of the soreness he was feeling,” Melvin said.