Chapman helps team get offense in high gear
ARLINGTON, Texas — An A’s offense that was among baseball’s least productive in July has come alive in August. The A’s posted the secondlowest OPS and run total in the majors in July. They entered Sunday ranked first in OPS and second in batting average this month and had 10 more hits in a 7-4 loss to the Rangers.
Individual upticks have spurred the improvement, none more than Matt Chapman’s on this road trip. Chapman had a solo home run and two singles in Sunday’s loss. In six games at Cleveland and Texas, Chapman was 8-for-17 with three home runs and reached base in 17 of 26 plate appearances. He had nine walks and four strikeouts.
“We all know what he’s capable of,” outfielder Mark Canha said of Chapman. “It’s kind of like we were waiting; we knew it was only a matter of time before he was going to come around.”
Canha has reached base in 22 of 24 games since returning from a hip injury in mid-July. On Sunday, he hit his first home run since June 4 to snap a career-long 40-game streak without one.
Designated hitter Mitch Moreland, who is batting .234,
has also made contributions on the road trip. He had six hits — five for extra bases, including three homers — and drove in five runs in his past four games entering Sunday. Catcher Sean Murphy, who is hitting .279 in his past 12 games, and Tony Kemp had an RBI double and single, respectively.
“We had kind of our offensive struggles prior to this month, you could say, and I think eventually it’s kind of the calm before the storm,” Canha said.
“It’s not like we’re not trying to work through it. So eventually, something’s going to click for each and every person. And that’s what I kept telling myself through my little slump that I was going through. You keep
working, you keep chipping away at it, and eventually it’s going to crack. And I think that’s happening for some guys.”
Manager Bob Melvin said Saturday night the A’s “could be a different team” with an offensive surge by Chapman down the stretch. Chapman has multiple hits in four of his past eight games; he had four in 42 games before that.
“Sometimes you go through stretches where you’re not getting a ton to hit, and when you do, you miss your pitch,” Melvin said Sunday. “Not only is he walking, but he’s not missing pitches. And he’s not missing mistakes right now, and that goes a long way for your confidence.”
Briefly: Josh Harrison (right quad strain) ran bases before Sunday’s game and “hopefully” will be available to play Monday’s series opener in Chicago, Melvin said … Chapman was tentatively set to be off Saturday but played; Melvin said he still would like to give the third baseman an off-day on this road trip. … The A’s are scheduled to play 26 of their next 34 games against non-division opponents; they have a 36-24 record against non-AL West teams this season.