Chapman has dream day: 6 RBIs, All-Star
ANAHEIM >> Even before he went out and delivered the most productive game of his major league career, Matt Chapman was well into the most memorable day of his life.
On the same day Chapman learned he had been selected to his first All-Star team, the third-year third baseman drove in a careerhigh six runs with a double, triple and home run to lead the A’s to a 12-3 win against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday.
“Probably just a coincidence, but it feels good,” he said of the double Sunday treat.
The A’s (46-39) climbed a season-high seven games over .500 by winning three of four in Anaheim, but also
lost two key players during the series; designated hitter Khris Davis (bruised left hand) and Stephen Piscotty (sprained right knee).
Davis could return as soon as Tuesday when the A’s open a three-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins, while Piscotty awaits an MRI today to determine the severity of his injury.
Chapman arrived at Angel Stadium and received word about 90 minutes before the first pitch that he’d been selected to the American League All-Star team by his peers.
Chapman said he could only compare the feeling to the first time he was called up to the major leagues two years ago.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said of his selection. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”
Chapman then went out and put together a line any All-Star would envy.
Playing about 20 miles from where he went to high school and five miles from his college, Chapman started mildly with a pop out to second and a fly out to left.
He came up in the fifth with two runners on and the A’s clinging to a one-run lead, and sliced a line drive just over the yellow line on the wall in right, nearly the same spot he homered on Saturday night, giving the A’s a 5-1 lead.
Chapman hit a line drive toward the same area to lead off the eighth, only this time it didn’t clear the yellow line, leaving him to settle for a triple. Not long after scoring, Chapman came up again in the inning with the bases loaded. He doubled into the left-center field gap to score all three runners for a 12-2 lead.
“The only thing he didn’t do today is make three spectacular plays at third,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said.
The A’s went 5-1 on the trip and now await the arrival of the AL Central-Division leading Twins, who came into Sunday leading the majors in several offensive categories, including batting average (.271), home runs (156) and runs (471).
In the meantime, they’ll cross their fingers as they await news on the right knee of Piscotty, who was injured while trying to stretch a single into a double in the sixth inning of a 4-0 win on Saturday night.
“We feel like it might not be as significant as it looked last night, but you never know until you have the MRI,” Melvin said. “We have our fingers crossed.”
The A’s have today off before opening a three-game series against the visiting Minnesota Twins on Tuesday.
Chapman remembers being in the stands at the Home Run Derby during the AllStar festivities at Angel Stadium in 2010.
The Orange County native never made it to the All-Star Game, however. That ticket went to his grandmother.
This time, things will be different. He’ll be on center stage on July 9 in Cleveland.
“It feels like I’m going to be a little kid in a candy store,” he told reporters before Sunday’s game.
Chapman said he could only compare the feeling to the first time he was called up to the major leagues two years ago.
“I didn’t know what to expect,” he said of his selection. “I didn’t want to get my hopes up.”
Playing on Sunday about 20 miles from where he went to high school and five miles from his college, Chapman started mildly with a pop out to second and a fly out to left.
He came up in the fifth with two runners on and the A’s clinging to a one-run lead, and sliced a line drive just over the yellow line on the wall in right, nearly the same spot he homered on Saturday night, giving the A’s a 5-1 lead.
Chapman hit a line drive toward the same area to lead off the eighth, only this time it didn’t clear the yellow line, leaving him to settle for a triple. Not long after scoring, Chapman came up again in the inning with the bases loaded. He doubled into the left-center field gap to score all three runners for a 12-2 lead.
“The only thing he didn’t do today is make three spectacular plays at third,” Melvin said.
Chapman made his major league debut just over two years ago and hit .231 with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs while playing just over half the season. He returned as the team’s third baseman last season and batted .278 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs while earning his first Gold Glove award.
Chapman has taken his game to another level this season, especially in the power department, belting his 21st home run of the season Sunday — he hit No. 20 Saturday — and driving in 49 runs in 84 games.
Entering Sunday, he was the only player in the AL with at least 20 homers, 20 doubles and 55 runs scored.
“I don’t know if I felt like I was an All-Star,” he said. “To be able to have it happen, and know all the hard work that went into it, more than this year and the last year, way before the big leagues even started. So, just to be able to accomplish this feels pretty good.”
Chapman said he’s looking forward to seeing his former high school teammate, Nolan Arenado of the Colorado Rockies, who will start at third base for the NL team. He also plans to take in all the festivities, including his second Home Run Derby.
“I want to watch all those dudes drop bombs,” he said. “I’m going to do as much as I can and make the most of it. You never know if it’s your first one and your last, so you’ve got to enjoy it all.”
• Davis remained out of the starting lineup for the third straight game after getting hit on the left hand in the series opener. Melvin said Davis felt better on Sunday morning and took some swings in the indoor batting cages at Angel Stadium.
A’s closer Blake Treinen is also expected to take a major step toward his return from a sprained right shoulder. Treinen is scheduled to make a rehab start at TripleA Las Vegas on Monday and would be eligible to come off the 10-day injured list during the series against the Twins.
• The A’s recalled infielder Franklin Barreto from Las Vegas to fill Piscotty’s spot.