Series wins over Astros, Yankees speak volumes about current state of surging A’s
OAKLAND » This extended homestand would unearth the A’s true postseason promise, at least that seemed the unspoken consensus.
In four games against the Houston Astros, three — with the finale Thursday night — against the New York Yankees and two more this weekend to cap a four-game Bay Bridge series against the Giants, the A’s look to be playing their best baseball this season. They split the first two at Oracle Park then claimed series wins from the Astros and Yankees, the two undeniably best teams in the American League.
Unexpected? Maybe, maybe not. The A’s continue to prove that they can not only just compete, but beat any team.
“Good start for us, I don’t think we look too deep at it,” manager Bob Melvin said following Wednesday night’s series clincher against the Yankees. “To get to this point right now where we’ve won two series, it’s been a good start.”
And this recent stretch of success happened without Ramon Laureano’s dynamic playmaking and with typically-reliable Khris Davis in a painfully prolonged slump (with some respites like Wednesday night’s home run off J.A. Happ).
So, who made this hap
pen? LIAM HENDRIKS » Blake Treinen went on the injured list way back on June 21 with a strain to his throwing shoulder. Since then, and even before that, Hendriks not only filled in, but transformed into one of the game’s most dominant closers
Wednesday night he came full circle.
In less than a year, opener Hendriks was on the wrong side of an Aaron Judge two-run homer that broke open 2018’s AL wild card game, been designated for assignment, designated for garbage inning- eater duties, embarked on a 20 2/3 scoreless streak, saved 15 games with a 1.40 ERA in 24 games and struck out Judge himself swinging at his much-improved slider to preserve the A’s two-run lead on Wednesday night.
Those 6-foot-7 sluggers don’t look so imposing now.
“When I’m on the mound, I’m higher up than him,” Hendriks said. MARCUS SEMIEN » Semien doesn’t carry confidence boisterously, perhaps like his teammates might. He hasn’t missed a game, and contributes consistently defensively and offensively. Against the Astros and Yankees, he’s hit three home runs with a .304 average and .407 OBP.
Isolated series-by-series, Semien always finds ways to contribute. David Forst put his contributions to the team best.
“Marcus has gone from just being consistent and kind of this stabilizing force to just being one of the stars of our team. While continuing to play every day,” he said. “So, you just have to point at his work ethic and how hard he works at the game and how much he wants to be a great player. He doesn’t get the attention that the guys on the corners do, and I think that’s just because of his personality. He’s understated, but you can point to numerous games where Marcus carried us, had three or four hits and put the team on his back.” THE MATTS » Speaking of the guys on the corners …
Matt Chapman and Matt Olson flashed a ton of leather and put together key hits and home runs this home stand.
In San Francisco and against the Astros, Chapman batted .417 with four home runs (upping his home run count to 29 this year). Olson has three home runs and 10 RBIs in eight games. THE NEW GUYS » Over the last eight games, the A’s have faced Madison Bumgarner, Justin Verlander, Zack Greinke and Domingo German along with some of the best bullpens in baseball. The Yankees’ bullpen’s 6.3 WAR ranks first among all teams, the Astros’ 3.71 ERA ranks third and the Giants’ 3.98 is fifth.
For the most part, the A’s rotation managed to match all those big names blow for blow. The new additions have come out with the headliners.
Homer Bailey, who’s struggled a few times, pitched seven shutout innings against the Giants and allowed one run in 5 2/3 innings against the Yankees. Tanner Roark, who go the ball Thursday against the Yankees, allowed just two runs in six innings against the mighty Astros lineup.
It isn’t quite over yet stretch could have gone either way — back-to-back series against the game’s best could knock the A’s down easily. Instead, they seem to be almost on the other end of it with just a few scrapes and bruises.
With momentum to plant roots into a wild card spot and perhaps make a run at the division, the A’s play the Giants twice before heading off to Kansas City and to the Bronx for three more against these Yankees.