With a 21-6 record since mid-June Jamison Crowder Jersey , the Oakland Athletics are storming into the All-Star break on quite a roll.
Their ace is pitching like he was earlier in the season and they’re continuing to hit home runs on the road at a sizzling rate.
Stephen Piscotty went deep for the fifth time in nine games on Sunday as the A’s beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2.
”We’re playing really confident baseball and we’re making a charge here.” Piscotty said. ”We’re really happy with how we finished. We’re right there, so we’re excited to keep going.”
Oakland still trails first-place Houston by eight games in the AL West but moved within three games of Seattle for the second wild card spot. Four weeks ago the A’s were 11 games behind the Mariners.
”We certainly have the ability to be a playoff team,” All-Star second baseman Jed Lowrie said. ”At this point it’s got to be a narrow focus. Keep the eye on the prize but narrow the focus.”
Sean Manaea allowed two runs in six innings for his fourth consecutive win. Lowrie walked and scored in his return to the lineup following a scary collision in right field two nights earlier for Oakland. Matt Chapman added two hits.
The surging A’s have won nine of 12 and lead the major leagues with 85 home runs on the road.
All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford had two hits for the Giants, who lost a home series for the first time since dropping two of three at AT&T Park to Arizona from April 8-10.
San Francisco has hit only six home runs in July. Manager Bruce Bochy said his team needs to drive the ball a little bit more the second half of the season.
”That’s what we need more than anything is some power. Not just home runs. We’re not driving the ball like I think we can,” Bochy said.
Piscotty singled in Jed Lowrie in the fourth against starter Andrew Suarez (3-6) then homered off Reyes Moronta in the sixth. It is Piscotty’s 12th this season and fifth this month, all of them coming since July 7.
Piscotty’s hit in the fourth was the first of three consecutive RBI singles off Suarez. Matt Olson and Matt Chapman also drove in runs while Jonathan Lucroy added a sacrifice fly to put Oakland up 4-1.
A’s manager Bob Melvin said Piscotty is hitting his stride after dealing with the death of his mother earlier this season. Gretchen Piscotty passed away from Lou Gehrig’s disease on May 6.
”Now he’s just playing baseball and he’s got a nice little angel sitting there with him Antwaun Woods Jersey ,” Melvin said. ”I think he’s aware of that, too. It’s an inspiration for him. He’s playing as good as anybody we have on our team at this point.”
Manaea (9-6) gave up five hits, including Chase d’Arnaud’s second home run this season in the sixth. Manaea retired seven of the final eight he faced.
Ryan Buchter struck out the side in the seventh. Lou Trivino and All-Star closer Blake Treinen retired three batters apiece to complete the five-hitter.
Suarez allowed four runs in five innings.
THIS AND THAT
Piscotty has hit 11 of his 12 home runs on the road. . Manaea has an 11-game winning streak in day games dating to May 20, 2017. . The home run by d’Arnaud was his second in five games. D’Arnaud was a non-roster invitee to spring training. . Suarez had given up four runs in his previous four starts (24 2/3 innings) before allowing four in one inning to the A’s.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: Lowrie had been nursing a bruised bone and calf bruise in his left leg after colliding with Piscotty in right field. . OF Matt Joyce (lumbar strain) received an epidural shot for his sore back. RHP Daniel Gossett (strained right elbow) began a throwing program.
Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija was placed on the 10-day disabled list because of right shoulder inflammation. It’s Samardzija’s third stint on the DL this season. IF Kelby Tomlinson was called up from Triple-A Sacramento and started at second base.
UP NEXT
Athletics: Return to the Coliseum to host the San Francisco in a three-game series beginning Friday. It’s the first time since 1986 that the A’s have played six consecutive games against the same team.
Giants: RHP Dereck Rodriguez (4-1, 2.89 ERA) pitches on Friday night when San Francisco heads across the Bay to play three games in Oakland.
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SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Fred Warner isn’t being given time to ease into his NFL career.
The rookie for the San Francisco 49ers is slated to start in his debut on Sunday in Minnesota at a relatively new position of middle linebacker with all the responsibilities that come with calling the defensive signals.
“I’m very excited http://www.washingtonredskinsteamonline.com/d.j.-swearinger-jersey , being this will be my first start,” Warner said. “I’m just trying to make sure I’m as prepared as possible heading into that game on Sunday. I’m just going to do what I do, which is ball out and make plays and be the leader out there as the Mike.”
The Niners drafted Warner in the third round out of BYU in part because of his ability to guard tight ends, running backs and even slot receivers in the passing game as an outside linebacker.
But Warner has spent most of his time on the inside for the 49ers and is filling the void created by the two-game suspension that has sidelined Reuben Foster.
Now instead of being counted on to show off his coverage skills in space, Warner will need to take on much bigger offensive linemen in the run game for San Francisco.
“I feel like it’s kind of my natural position, you could say http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/sean-lee-jersey ,” Warner said. “Obviously, I didn’t do a lot of that in college. But just being out there, I feel like if I wasn’t as natural, I probably wouldn’t be doing as well as I am — and being in the position I’m in.”
Playing middle linebacker comes with lots of responsibility as Warner will be the man relaying the defensive calls from coordinator Robert Saleh to the rest of the defense.
It’s a task he welcomes and that his coaches feel he is more than prepared to handle.
“He was one of, if not the smartest interviews I’ve ever had personally at the combine for a linebacker,” Saleh said. “He’s picked it up well. He’s got great command of it. He’s got a long way to go. I don’t want to crown him quite yet Cheap Stacy McGee Jersey , but he’s a rookie, he’s going to have his peaks and valleys, but we have great confidence in him.”
Warner said he never doubted he was physical enough to play in the box and said most of the critics who said he couldn’t just hadn’t seen him do it. Saleh credited San Francisco’s scouts for finding plays from Senior Bowl week and other games that showed that Warner was willing to take on the contact that he will have to deal with in the middle of the NFL defense.
Saleh said that showed up again in the preseason and he has no questions about Warner’s physicality and ability to tackle.
The bigger challenge this week might come in dealing with Minnesota’s offense that relies heavily on run-pass options that make life difficult on linebackers and has star running back Dalvin Cook healthy again after last year’s season-ending knee injury.
Warner said he has studied film of Cook from last year and Eagles games from last year to try to get a sense of what kind of offense new coordinator John DeFilippo runs. He particularly watched how Philadelphia played against Atlanta and the Chargers last season since those teams run a similar defensive scheme to San Francisco’s.
Dealing with the RPOs that the Niners are anticipating will be key to their success.
“It puts stress on the defense as a whole if you’re not prepared for it,” Warner said. “So that’s why we’re kind of making some adjustments to make sure we’re not getting hit in certain areas where we’re not protected.”
NOTES: LB Malcolm Smith (hamstring) is doubtful. … LB Dekoda Watson injured his hamstring in practice and will miss the game. … T Erik Magnuson (hamstring) is also out Sunday. Womens Fred Warner Jersey