Bailey’s debut solid in 10-2 win.
Win streak reaches six as A’s romp behind six homers and Bailey’s impressive debut
OAKLAND >> A’s third baseman Matt Chapman is considered day-to-day with a left ankle injury he suffered in the early stages of Wednesday’s game with the Seattle Mariners.
Even without a Most Valuable Player candidate such as Chapman, though, the A’s showed no signs of slowing down.
The A’s hit six home runs — including two each from Mark Canha and Jurickson Profar — and received a solid performance from new pitcher Homer Bailey as they flattened the Mariners 10-2 at the Coliseum to extend their win streak to six games.
Chad Pinder and Ramón Laureano also homered for the A’s, who, in going A’S 10, MARINERS 2
Up next: A’s (Fiers 9-3) at Twins (Gibson 8-4), today, 5:10 p.m., NBCCA
5-0 on their post-All Star Break homestand, outscored the Chicago White Sox and Mariners by a combined total of 40-9.
It’s an ideal way for the A’s to head into a seven-game road trip against first place teams. They’ll take on American League Central-leading Minnesota in a four-game series that starts today, and AL West-leading Houston for three games early next week.
“It was fun to watch,” Chapman said. “I wish I could’ve been out there. Really excited for those guys. Swinging the bats well right now. It’s huge going
into play Minnesota, a team that’s been pitching well, and obviously Houston.
“I like how we’re swinging. This will be a big road trip for us.”
Here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s game.
1. BAILEY LOOKS COMFORTABLE
IN GREEN AND GOLD >> Bailey, acquired from the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, made his first start since July 4 and ran into some trouble in the second inning as both Dylan Moore and Dee Gordon drove in runs for a 2-0 Mariners lead. With runners at second and third and two outs, though, Bailey struck out J.P. Crawford to limit the damage.
Bailey gave up just two hits over the next four innings, as he struck out six in six innings and did not allow a walk.
Bailey said he was “a little bit rusty early. Wasn’t quite locating the way I wanted to, just needed to find a (rhythm).”
“I thought he did really well for a guy that hadn’t pitched in basically two weeks,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “They got some hits off him early in the game, but then (he) shut it down when he needed to.
“Sometimes there’s some nerves with a new team and there’s some expectations. Gives up a couple hits, then shuts it down and gives us six innings. So I thought it was a really good start for him.”
2. A’S TAKING CAUTIOUS APPROACH WITH CHAPMAN >> There’s a chance Chapman will have to miss today’s series opener against the Twins at Target Field, as the A’s plan to take it easy with their 2018 Gold Glovewinning third baseman.
Chapman said he felt some discomfort when he made a throw across the diamond to get Domingo Santana on a groundout in the first inning. It still didn’t feel right in the bottom half of the first during Chapman’s at-bat.
Chapman played the top of the second but was removed for the start of the third. Chad Pinder moved from left field to third base, and Robbie Grossman was inserted in left field.
“It was more precautionary than anything, and we’re just going to see how it feels tomorrow,” Chapman said. “It’s probably one of those things that when you’re playing all the time, something just pops up.”
Chapman has been one of the A’s hottest hitters of late. Coming into Wednesday, he was 9 for 15 (.600) since the All-Star break and was batting .366 (34 for 93) with 22 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, six home runs and 23 RBIs over his last 25 games, dating back to June 14.
“He tends to be able to play through things,” Melvin said, “but we’ll just see how he feels (Thursday).”
3. ROAD TRIP BEGINS A TOUGH STRETCH FOR THE A’S >> The A’s didn’t want to make too much of their upcoming games against the Twins and Astros, teams with the second and third-best records in the American League, respectively.
After all, it is still just the middle of July.
Still, it’ll be a significant stretch of challenging games. After the road trip, the A’s host Texas for four games from July 25-28 and Milwaukee from July 30Aug. 1. They actually don’t play a team with a losing record, as of now, again until Aug. 9 when they face the White Sox in Chicago.
“We back it up and just try and win today’s game,” Melvin said. “We’re not out there looking at who we’re going to get on this day and who we’re going to get on that day. We’re just trying to get out there tomorrow and win the game.
“There are some tough teams that we’re playing, but I’m not trying to put any significance on this trip because you’re going to be asking me that as the season goes along farther and farther.”