LEADING OFF: After Maxwell takes knee, will others join?

A look at what’s happening all around the majors Sunday:

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ANTHEM PROTESTS

Bruce Maxwell of the Oakland Athletics became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem on Saturday, adopting a protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in response to police treatment of blacks. More players could follow — there’s been a major backlash by athletes and executives after President Donald Trump denounced protests by NFL players at a rally on Friday. The Athletics quickly voiced support for Maxwell, tweeting shortly after the anthem that they “respect and support all of our players’ constitutional rights and freedom of expression” and “pride ourselves on being inclusive.”

WORKING OVERTIME

After playing three straight games that got decided in the 10th inning, the NL Central-leading Cubs and Brewers wrap up their series at Miller Park. Milwaukee bounced back from two losses to win Saturday 4-3 on Travis Shaw’s homer off closer Wade Davis. The Brewers moved within 4 1/2 games of the Cubs, and are even closer in the chase for the second wild-card spot. Jose Quintana starts for Chicago vs. Chase Anderson.

TRY AGAIN

Lance McCullers (7-3, 3.97) pitches for the AL West champion Astros when they host the Los Angeles Angels at night. The right-hander hasn’t pitched since he was scratched from his scheduled start on Sept. 13 because of arm fatigue. Manager A.J. Hinch said McCullers will be on a pitch count, but didn’t say exactly how many pitches they’ll let him throw. The Angels have lost six in a row and fallen back in the wild-card race.

KLUBOT IN CONTROL

Corey Kluber can improve his AL Cy Young Award resume when Cleveland faces Seattle. Kluber is 5-0 with a 1.15 ERA in his last five starts and hasn’t allowed a run in 22 innings. He is 2-1 with a 1.96 ERA in three career starts against Seattle.

FEELING BETTER

Jacob deGrom is expected back on the mound for the Mets after having a scheduled start pushed back because of a stomach bug. He’ll face Washington ace Max Scherzer in the last game of the season series between the teams. The Nationals may also get star outfielder Bryce Harper back soon. Harper played in a simulated game Saturday, and manager Dusty Baker says he’s “very close” to returning after hyperextending his left knee in August.

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More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Davis' 40th HR only run in A's win over Rangers

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Khris Davis hit his 40th home run of the season, Raul Alcantara threw five strong innings and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Saturday night at the Oakland Coliseum.

The A's (71-83) won their season-high sixth straight game and beat the Rangers at the Coliseum for the seventh consecutive time.

Texas (76-78) fell 4 1/2 games behind the Minnesota Twins, 10-4 winners over Detroit, for the second wild-card spot in the American League. The Rangers, who have eight games remaining, are tied with Kansas City and the Los Angeles Angels in the wild-card race.

Davis became the second Athletic in franchise history to hit at least 40 home runs in back-to-back seasons, joining Jimmie Foxx (1932-34). Davis hit a career-high 42 home runs last season, his first with Oakland. With his solo shot in the second inning, Davis also set a career high for RBIs with 103, one more than he had last year.

Alcantara (1-1) made a spot start in place of lefty Sean Manaea, who was a late scratch because a strained upper back. Alcantra allowed no runs on two hits over five innings with five strikeouts and two walks. He lowered his ERA from 9.20 to 6.86.

Alcantara made a spot start at Detroit on Monday and blanked the Tigers for 3 2/3 innings on two hits in an 8-3 A's victory.

Ryan Dull, Daniel Coulombe, Chris Hatcher and Blake Treinen combined to blank Texas over the final four innings on two hits. Treinen pitched a scoreless ninth for his 11th save.

Rangers right-hander Miguel Gonzalez (8-12) allowed one run on four hits over six innings in his fourth start since being traded by the White Sox to Texas. He struck out five and walked none.

The Athletics took a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Davis led off with his 40th home run. Davis launched Gonzalez' first-pitch fastball over the right-center field wall.

After Davis' home run, the A's loaded the bases as Matt Olson and Ryon Healy singled and Matt Chapman was hit by a pitch. But Gonzalez retired the next three batters to escape further damage.

The Rangers had runners on first and second with two outs in the fifth after Robinson Chirinos singled and Alcantara walked Rougned Odor. But Alcantara retired Drew Robinson on a ground ball to end the threat.

NOTES: A's C Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem as he joined a protest against racial injustice that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began last season. Maxwell is an African American who was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, when his father, Bruce, was stationed there with the Army during a tour of duty. Maxwell posted a strong response on Instagram opposing President Trump's recent criticism of NFL players who kneel during the anthem. A's OF Mark Canha placed a hand on Maxwell's shoulder during the anthem then hugged him when it ended. Maxwell missed his second straight game while undergoing concussion tests. ... Rangers manager Jeff Banister returned to Clear Lake, Texas, before Saturday's game to be with his mother, Verda, who is experiencing complications from recent surgery. Banister is expected to miss Sunday's series finale, too. Bench coach Steve Buechele filled in for Banister on Saturday in his first full game managing in the big leagues and will fill in again Sunday. "We'll just hold down the fort until he's back," Buchele said. ... A's INF/OF Chad Pinder (sore back/neck) was out of the lineup, one day after crashing into the right-center field wall in the sixth inning while trying to catch a deep fly ball.

A's Maxwell becomes first MLB player to kneel for anthem

OAKLAND, Calif. – Oakland Athletics catcher Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem Saturday night as he joined a protest against racial injustice that former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began last season.

This now has gone from just a BlackLives Matter topic to just complete inequality of any man or woman that wants to stand for Their rights!

— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017

pic.twitter.com/EHXwg8Zpax

— Oakland A's 🌳🐘⚾️ (@Athletics) September 24, 2017

Yeah I bet he doesn't step to @Kaepernick7 in person and call him and the other protesters a "son of a bitch." Ignorance from our Pres

— Bruce T Maxwell (@bruu_truu13) September 23, 2017

Maxwell is an African American who was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, when his father, Bruce, was stationed there with the Army during a tour of duty.

Maxwell posted a strong response on Instagram opposing President Donald Trump's recent criticism of NFL players who kneel during the anthem.

Yeah fuck this guy! Our president speaks of inequality of man because players are protesting the anthem! Fuck this man! Seriously on the highest platform for our country expressing that it is OK for there to be Division of man and rights!

A post shared by bruce_maxwell (@bruce_maxwell) on Sep 23, 2017 at 12:11pm PDT

A's outfielder Mark Canha placed a hand on Maxwell's shoulder during the anthem before their game against the Texas Rangers at the Oakland Coliseum, then hugged him when it ended.

Manaea, Davis help Athletics avoid sweep by Angels

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Los Angeles Angels' stay in the American League's second wild-card spot turned out to be a short one.

One day after moving a half game past the Minnesota Twins and into playoff position, the Angels lost 3-1 to the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon and dropped a half game behind the Twins, who defeated Tampa Bay.

The Angels had no answer for A's left-hander Sean Manaea, who pitched six shutout innings, or for Khris Davis, who went 3-for-3 with his AL-leading 39th home run, a double and two RBIs at Oakland Coliseum.

The A's ended their season-long, eight-game losing streak and avoided a series sweep, but Angels manager Mike Scioscia took some positives out of the loss.

Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs (1-5) allowed three runs and six hits in six innings, getting back on track after three rough starts and saving an overworked bullpen.

"It was huge. It's really big," Scioscia said. "You always want to win a game. Unfortunately, we didn't do that this afternoon, but the fact that 'Skaggsy' got us through six helped us to at least get some guys some rest and recharge for Friday."

After an off-day Thursday, the Angels open a three-game series Friday night at Seattle.

Manaea (10-9) allowed five hits, walked three and fanned six, his highest strikeout total in his past seven starts. After losing three straight decisions while mired in a nasty skid, Manaea won two of his past three starts. He allowed a combined five earned runs during that span.

"It felt great," Manaea said. "The bullpen has been up a lot this last week, so I knew going into this game I needed to go somewhat deep. I just kept telling myself that I was going to. I was (in) attack mode all day."

Skaggs struck out a season high-matching nine and walked one.

"That's much more in line with what he can do," Scioscia said.

The Angels came into the game after back-to-back wins in extra innings. They beat the A's 11-9 in 11 innings on Monday and 8-7 in 10 innings on Tuesday. Wednesday's game was low scoring but didn't lack drama or controversy.

A's rookie Matt Chapman was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Mike Everitt before his at-bat in the top of the fourth inning after exchanging words with Angels catcher Juan Graterol.

Graterol accused multiple A's hitters of looking back and trying to steal his signs. Chapman took issue with Graterol and kept arguing his point after Everitt told him to stop.

"I think this went back to a couple of games ago," Chapman said. "They thought that we were relaying signs to our hitters from second base, and then they also thought that a couple of guys on our team were peaking at the catcher's signs. So when we were digging into the box today, as you can see on video I'm sure, the catcher kept staring at every single hitter.

"That's not a very comfortable feeling having the catcher stare at you when you're digging into the box. A little disrespectful to be honest. So when I got into the box, I just let him know that we weren't stealing their signs and there was no need for that. He obviously didn't take kindly to those words."

Graterol said the A's hitters were "kind of peaking at signs" and that he was just protecting his teammates when he stared at Oakland's batters in the box.

"Tyler is doing a good job so I just take care of him," Graterol said. "This is my family. That's what we're playing for."

Davis gave the A's a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when he lined an opposite-field, leadoff homer off Skaggs to right, above the out-of-town scoreboard. Davis moved past the New York Yankees' Aaron Judge into sole possession of the lead in the AL's home run race.

Davis hit a career-high 42 home runs last season, his first with the A's, and now has 81 blasts in 185 games for Oakland. He has a team-high 99 RBIs this season.

"It's been amazing, it really has," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Davis exploits. "Pretty special talent as far as the power goes."

Kole Calhoun went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI triple for the Angels.

The A's increased their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. Marcus Semien lined a double down the left field line with one out and scored on Chad Pinder's sharp single to left, barely beating left fielder Justin Upton's strong throw home. Then with two outs, Pinder raced home when Upton lost Davis' fly ball in the sun and it landed for a double.

The Angels cut Oakland's lead to 3-1 in the eighth on Calhoun's RBI triple.

Chris Hatcher pitched a perfect ninth for his first save of the season.

NOTES: Angels 1B/DH Albert Pujols missed Wednesday's game against Oakland and returned to Los Angeles to receive treatment on his sore left knee and to be examined by doctors. The Angels have an off-day Thursday, and Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Pujols "will be ready to go" on Friday when they open a three-game series at Seattle. Los Angeles general manager Billy Eppler, however, told the Orange County Register that a plan for Pujols would be set after he was examined. Pujols aggravated the knee on Friday night against Texas when he slid into second base on a double. ... Angels CF Mike Trout set a franchise record in the first inning when he walked for the 14th consecutive game. ... Los Angeles RHP Bud Norris (right knee inflammation) was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and pitched a scoreless seventh inning. ... A's rookie 2B Franklin Barreto made his second start since being recalled Friday from Triple-A Nashville. Barreto went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.

Red Sox acquire OF Davis from A's

The Boston Red Sox acquired another player they hope will help them down the stretch and in the postseason, obtaining outfielder Rajai Davis from the Oakland Athletics in exchange for minor league outfielder Rafael Rincones, the teams announced Wednesday.

To make room for Davis on the 40-man roster, the Red Sox designated outfielder Steve Selsky for assignment.

With Jackie Bradley Jr. going on the disabled list earlier Wednesday, the Red Sox need help in the outfield.

Davis, 36, is batted .233 with 17 doubles, two triples, and five home runs in 100 games with the A's this season. He also stole 26 bases in 32 attempts.

In 30 games since the All-Star break, Davis has hit .303 with 11 stolen bases.

Davis has recorded five assists and two double plays in 79 games in center field, also making nine starts in right field and two in left field.

Davis appeared in the postseason in 2014 with the Detroit Tigers and in 2016 for the Cleveland Indians. In Game 7 of last year's World Series against the Chicago Cubs, he tied the score at 6-6 with a two-out, two-run home run off Aroldis Chapman in the eighth inning.

Rincones, 18, has played 57 games this season for the Dominican Summer League Red Sox, batting .258 with one home run, 19 RBIs, and eight stolen bases while leading the team with 38 runs scored, 13 doubles, and three triples.

All of his 51 defensive starts have come in right field, where the Venezuelan native has recorded six assists.

Selsky, 28, appeared in eight games for the Red Sox this season after making his first career Opening Day roster, going 1-for-9 with a double and appearing defensively at third base (two games) and in center field (one game).

Machado bails out Britton as O's jolt A's in extras

(TSX / STATS) -- BALTIMORE -- Zach Britton walked slowly toward the Baltimore Orioles' dugout with his teeth clenched after being lifted by manager Buck Showalter.

It was unfamiliar territory for the left-handed closer that luckily had a happy ending for the Orioles.

Britton's American League record streak of consecutive saves ended at 60. However, the Orioles still managed to emerge with an 8-7 victory over the Oakland Athletics on a game-winning homer by Manny Machado in the 12th inning on Wednesday.

"It's a reminder how hard it is to do," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said about Britton. "I just called him in my office and congratulated him. You won't see it again. And he does hold the record in my mind, OK? It's historical. That's as good as you'll ever see in any of our lifetimes. It's special and it's been an honor to watch him do it."

Baltimore won for just the third time in eight games, which has caused it to slip down the wild-card standings.

Oakland shortstop Marcus Semien was back in the starting lineup after getting the previous night off because of right wrist discomfort. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI double in the sixth and a run-scoring single in the ninth that cut Baltimore's lead to 7-6 off Britton. One batter later, Matt Joyce tied the game with a sacrifice fly.

Britton was lifted after walking Khris Davis and left to a standing ovation. He had not blown a save since Sept. 20, 2015.

"I knew that I didn't have good command and I wasn't making quality pitches, so it was going to be a battle," Britton said. "That's a team that they're young and they got some veteran guys too, but it seems like they put together good at-bats all the way through a game. Some credit to them too, but I didn't make quality pitches today and that's the gist of it really."

Machado provided the victory when he led off the 12th with a shot that barely cleared the center field wall off Simon Castro (1-2). Baltimore's Miguel Castro (3-1) picked up the win by throwing 3 2/3 scoreless innings.

"It's good to get that win," Machado said. "They gave us a heck of a game. Every time we come back like that and win a ballgame, it's going to help us coming into the next series."

Welington Castillo, Trey Mancini, and Chris Davis also homered for the Orioles.

Baltimore's Dylan Bundy, who started on 10 days' rest, was charged with three runs and seven hits with eight strikeouts and no walks over six-plus innings. He is pitching his second full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2013, and the Orioles are trying to limit him to about 180 innings.

Tim Beckham went 3-for-6 for the Orioles and is batting .421 since being acquired from Tampa Bay at the non-waiver trade deadline.

Castillo had a two-run shot in the sixth off reliever Daniel Coulombe that gave the Orioles a commanding 6-1 lead. An RBI single by Matt Olson pulled the A's to within 6-2 in the seventh that ended Bundy's day.

Oakland managed another run that inning on an RBI single by Bruce Maxwell off Mychal Givens. The Athletics chipped away and a two-run homer by Joyce in the eighth cut the margin to 6-5.

The Orioles' Davis provided a cushion with his 20th home, but this time, it was not enough for Britton.

"It was obviously a hard-fought game," A's third baseman Matt Chapman, who went 2-for-5, said. "We've been kind of battling a lot in our games lately. We fell a little bit short today. It's nice to know we can come back off a guy like that who is a really good closer. It's just a tough one to swallow"

The A's recalled Daniel Gossett from Triple-A Nashville to replace scheduled starter Sean Manaea, who is getting extra rest. Gossett, who was making his first appearance for the A's since Aug. 2, allowed five runs and eight hits with six strikeouts over five-plus innings.

"There are games that you lose and there are games where you fight as hard as you can possibly fight," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "To score off Britton like that, our guys showed a lot of heart today. Unfortunately, we ended up on the losing end. These guys battled as hard as we've seen them all year."

NOTES: Athletics OF Rajai Davis was traded to Boston for minor league OF Rafael Rincones. Davis batted .233 with five home runs and 18 RBIs in 100 games ... Orioles RHP Miguel Castro was reinstated from the bereavement list Wednesday. To make room, the Orioles optioned RHP Alec Asher to Triple-A Norfolk on Tuesday. ... Oakland RHP Paul Blackburn could make his next start after taking a line drive off the side of his right hand Tuesday, manager Bob Melvin said.

Healy, A's power past Orioles

(TSX / STATS) -- BALTIMORE -- The Oakland A's have used home runs to score nearly half of their runs this season. On Tuesday night, four homers gave the A's all of their runs and a victory.

Ryon Healy homered twice and drove in three runs and Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis also went deep as the Oakland A's defeated the Baltimore Orioles 6-4 at Camden Yards.

Healy (solo) and Lowrie (two-run) both homered in a three-run first as Oakland took a 3-0 lead after just five batters against Baltimore starter Ubaldo Jimenez.

In the fifth inning, Healy added a two-run homer. This was his fourth multi-homer game this season and stretched his hitting streak to 10 games as the A's took advantage of Jimenez's problems.

"He made a few mistakes and for us fortunately, we didn't miss those mistakes," Healy said. "Sometimes games are changed based off of mistakes that pitchers make."

Healy now has 23 homers and 69 RBIs this season.

Simon Castro (1-1) got the victory in relief as starter Paul Blackburn left in the fifth after being hit by a Trey Mancini comebacker.

Blackburn cruised through the first four innings before Mancini lined a shot off his right hand/wrist to open the fifth. The pitcher needed to leave despite holding a five-run lead, replaced by Castro. Blackburn gave up no runs and three hits.

Manager Bob Melvin said X-rays showed no break or fracture and said they may have dodged a bullet.

"We're calling it a bruised hand/wrist," Melvin said. "We'll see how he is in the next couple of days. He 1/8was 3/8 sailing along pretty good ... and maybe as good command-wise as we've seen him pitch."

Castro went two innings and gave up Manny Machado's two-run homer but still picked up the win.

The A's (55-71) then used three more relief pitchers to get to Blake Treinen, who came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth.

Jonathan Schoop cut the lead to 5-4 with a two-run single before Adam Jones grounded out.

Davis then gave the A's some insurance with a solo homer off Darren O'Day in the ninth before Treinen closed it for his fifth save with the A's.

The home run ended an 0-for-20 skid and was Davis' 500th career hit.

"(A slump) doesn't feel very good," Davis said. "I've just got to control what I (can) control and just have good ABs. It's only a matter of time before I break out."

Jimenez (5-9) allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings, including three homers. He has lost five of his past six decisions.

"I left a couple of pitches up, and they made me pay for it," Jimenez said. "The first one was a fastball that was supposed to be inside, but it got too much of the plate. The other one was a hanging slider."

The Orioles have allowed 17 home runs in the first five games of this homestand. Oakland also hit two in Monday's loss.

"We couldn't keep the ball in the park," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. "You'd like to say take the (three-run) first inning away, but you can't take those away. Rough start from (Jimenez)."

The A's jumped in front early thanks to the first-inning homers from Lowrie and Healy. Boog Powell led off the game with a single before Lowrie hit a two-run homer to right center.

Later in the inning, Healy made it 3-0 with his solo homer.

Healy struck again in the top of the fifth with a long two-run homer to left that put Oakland on top 5-0.

NOTES: SS J.J. Hardy continued his rehab work with Triple-A Norfolk. Manager Buck Showalter said Hardy will know when he's ready to return from a broken wrist. ... Baltimore 3B Manny Machado snapped an 0-for-8 slide with his two-run homer in the sixth inning. ... Oakland SS Marcus Semien (wrist scar tissue irritation) sat out after leaving the Monday night game with the same problem. A's manager Bob Melvin wasn't sure about Semien's status for the series finale on Wednesday. ...The A's also will make a move Wednesday, bringing up right-hander Daniel Gossett to start the series finale and moving back scheduled starter Sean Manaea to possibly Saturday.

Keuchel stellar over seven innings as Astros top A's

(TSX / STATS) -- HOUSTON -- The moment arrived early Friday night, that point when Houston Astros left-hander Dallas Keuchel wields such impeccable control of his repertoire that all that remains is to marvel at his handiwork.

Keuchel was masterful while working seven shutout innings, pacing the Astros to a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics at Minute Maid Park.

Keuchel (11-2) had a season-high 16 ground-ball outs while surrendering three hits and one walk. He had three strikeouts while tossing 100 pitches, 67 for strikes.

It marked his second consecutive quality start after a three-start slump that coincided with his return from a two-month stint on the disabled list. Keuchel is 3-0 against Oakland (53-69) this season.

"I thought I was commanding the ball inside when I did go in," Keuchel said. "There were a few guys I had to go in to get away. That was nice to see just for the extension purpose and to see the way the ball comes off the hand. I felt like I was back in midseason form. Happy all around with what I saw out of myself.

"I still can clean up the slider a little bit. That will come with time."

Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve slugged back-to-back home runs off Athletics left-hander Sean Manaea (8-8) in the third inning to provide Keuchel a bit of a cushion. Bregman smacked his 14th home run the opposite way to right field and Altuve belted his 19th homer to left.

"We were trying to go up and in and I just left it right over the middle of the plate," Manaea said of the pitch to Altuve. "Especially to a guy like that you can't do those kinds of things. As soon as I let go of it I kind of knew it was going to be a bad pitch. He put a good swing on it and unfortunately it was a home run."

Josh Reddick added an RBI single off Manaea with two outs in the sixth, driving home Yuli Gurriel. Houston (75-47) scored all of its runs with two outs and improved to 11-2 against Oakland this season.

Astros closer Ken Giles had his second multi-inning save of the week, inducing an inning-ending double-play grounder from pinch-hitter Matt Olson to cap the eighth before striking out the side in the ninth. Giles, who had a six-out save at Texas on Sunday, picked up his 24th save.

Keuchel entered his 16th start of the season leading the major leagues in ground-ball rate. By the close of his first inning, the direction that his performance was trending was quite clear.

Keuchel retired the side in order in the first inning on ground-ball outs. He added two more groundouts in the second, worked around a Matt Joyce bunt single against the shift with three ground-ball outs in the third, and retired the side in order again on groundouts in the fourth.

"Some guys that haven't seen him much in the past, you can look at video all you want until you get into the box and realize how much his ball moves," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said of Keuchel. "It's kind of an acquired taste."

Even when Keuchel ran into a bit of two-out trouble in the fifth, he had the ground-ball out in his pocket ready to aid his escape. With two runners on base, including Matt Chapman after his two-out double, Keuchel got Dustin Garneau to ground sharply to shortstop Marwin Gonzalez, who turned a nifty stop and accurate throw into another scoreless inning.

Gonzalez and Bregman produced a handful of solid defensive plays, efforts reflective of how an effective Keuchel keeps infielders on their toes. In concert, the performances were sublime.

"You see all the plays that Bregman played (at third base), the plays that Marwin made, even Yuli (at first) on a couple inside-out swings, you've got to be active to play infield behind Keuchel," Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. "We know it, he knows it, and he does a good job of keeping his infielders in the game."

NOTES: The Athletics are in no hurry to reinstate C Josh Phegley from the 10-day disabled list after he made his first rehab start on Wednesday for Triple-A Nashville. Phegley has been on the DL since July 25 with a strained left oblique and the Athletics are committed to Phegley making multiple appearances with the Sounds. ... According to published reports, the Astros informed more than a half-dozen scouts that their contracts would not be renewed at season's end. GM Jeff Luhnow described the moves as a reconfiguring of the scouting department. ... Home plate umpire and crew chief Jerry Layne departed with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning after taking a foul ball off his left hand. Dan Bellino, who opened the game at second base, replaced Layne, who was diagnosed with a hand contusion, behind the plate.

Royals rally to take series in Oakland

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- When Kansas City faced the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday afternoon, the Royals still felt the sting from their high-scoring loss and bullpen meltdown in the eighth inning from the night before.

The Royals blew another lead in the eighth inning Wednesday, but this time they rallied to beat the A's 7-6 and cap their eight-game road trip with a second straight 2-1 series win.

Alcides Escobar hit a leadoff double against A's reliever Blake Treinen in the ninth, and Alex Gordon lined an RBI single to right, breaking a 6-6 tie. Kelvin Herrera pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth for his 26th save, stranding Ryon Healy at second.

"This was a big win for us today, especially after last night," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We talk about grinding out that game that we did (Saturday) in Chicago, and that rebuilds your momentum. Games like last night can cease your momentum. So to come back and show the heart and the ability to grind a tough game out, like our guys did today, was very satisfying."

The Royals, who have an off day Thursday, have won four of five games going into the opener of a three-game series Friday at Kauffman Stadium against the first-place Cleveland Indians, the team they are trying to catch in the American League Central.

"Last night was a tough game, but you got to give credit to Oakland," said Gordon, who is batting .200 but went 2-for-5 with two RBIs. "These last two games have been back and forth with two teams just not giving up, two hard-fought games. They came out on top yesterday, and we were able to bounce back and found a way."

The Royals had contributions Wednesday from hitters throughout the order. Lorenzo Cain went 2-for-3 with his 13th homer of the year, a two-run shot in the fourth. Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas each went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run. Escobar finished 3-for-4 and scored two runs.

"We got big clutch hits when we needed it," Yost said.

Escobar delivered a huge double in the ninth, turning on the jets to beat left fielder Matt Joyce's throw to second.

"I know that's a close, close play right there, but in the right moment, when I hit the ball, I said, 'I'm going straight to second base,'" Escobar said.

That brought Gordon to the plate, and he lined a Treinen slider to right, sending Escobar home with the go-ahead run.

"I was trying to drive him in but also trying to get him over any way that I could," Gordon said. "I went up there with the mindset, maybe possibly bunt, trying to get (him) to third any way I could. When I got two strikes, I was just trying to hit it that way, and he threw me a slider, a pretty good pitch to hit."

Oakland's Marcus Semien went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in the third inning, his fifth blast of the year. Rookie Matt Chapman hit a two-run shot in the eighth, his ninth home run of the season. Jed Lowrie had two hits and two RBIs, and Healy added two hits.

On Tuesday night, the Royals scored five times in the top of the eighth to take a 8-4 lead, but the A's scored six times in the bottom of the inning and won 10-8.

The A's trailed 6-4 entering the bottom of the eighth Wednesday, but Healy hit a leadoff single and Chapman crushed a homer to left center off reliever Brandon Maurer (1-1).

"It is a results-based industry and you want to win, but the fact that you keep battling in what was early on not a really good game for us does have a little value," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

Royals left-hander Danny Duffy allowed four runs and six hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in five innings of a no-decision.

A's rookie right-hander Paul Blackburn made his ninth career start and gave up four runs and eight hits in four innings, his shortest outing. Blackburn struck out two and walked three in a no-decision.

"It's tough when I fall behind every batter," Blackburn said. "That's kind of on me. I've got to do better than that."

The Royals scored a run in the top of the first inning when Moustakas brought Hosmer home with a bases-loaded infield single.

Semien put Oakland ahead 2-1 in the third with his two-run blast after Dustin Garneau led off with a walk.

The Royals responded with three runs in the fourth, regaining the lead at 4-2. Escobar led off with an infield single and raced to third when Chapman threw wildly from third to first. Drew Butera brought Escobar home with a single, and Cain followed with a two-run blast to center off Blackburn.

"It just seems like when he's going good, we're going good," Yost said of Cain.

NOTES: Royals RHP Joakim Soria (lower back soreness) will undergo an MRI on Thursday in Kansas City and might land on the 10-day disabled list, manager Ned Yost said. Soria gave up four hits and four runs in the eighth inning Tuesday night in a 10-8 loss to Oakland. According to Yost, Soria has been pitching in pain for two weeks. ... A's RHP Chris Hatcher, who was acquired Tuesday from the Los Angeles Dodgers, made his Oakland debut and pitched a perfect sixth inning with one strikeout. RHP Josh Smith was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. ... LHP Sam Moll was acquired by Oakland from Colorado in exchange for a player to be named or cash considerations. Moll, who has spent the entire season at Triple-A Albuquerque, was assigned to Nashville. RHP Zach Neal was designated for assignment, clearing a spot on the A's 40-man roster for Moll. Neal had been pitching for Nashville.

Royals' Duffy looks to maintain stellar record at Oakland

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(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kansas City left-hander Danny Duffy has lost back-to-back starts, but history indicates he will have a good chance to get back on track Wednesday afternoon in the finale of the Royals' three-game series against the Oakland Athletics.

Duffy is 3-0 with a 2.84 ERA in six career games, including five starts, against the Athletics. All three of those wins came at the Coliseum, where he has a 2.33 career ERA in four games (three starts).

Duffy is one of three active players with a perfect record and a sub-3.00 ERA against Oakland in at least five starts, along with Miami's Wei-Yin Chen (5-0, 2.30) and Baltimore's Chris Tillman (4-0, 2.51). Just don't expect Duffy to let his past success lead to overconfidence.

"I've done well here, but it's in the past," Duffy said. "Everything that's happened in the past is over. This is a brand new (A's) team. They've got a good squad. You just try to keep doing what got you here. Keep it simple."

The A's evened the series 1-1 with a wild 10-8 victory Tuesday night. After giving up five runs and homers to Drew Butera, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas in the top of the eighth and falling behind 8-4, the A's scored six times in the bottom of the frame.

Duffy will face a young, rebuilding A's team that typically has four or five rookie position players in the lineup. The book on each of those young players isn't very thick.

"I think you just stick to your strengths in those situations," Duffy said. "We've all gone through it where we've gotten up here and people didn't know you very well. You do well against people who have really good resumes. Then they figure you out. I just feel if I stick to my strengths and don't change anything, more (often) than not, I'm going to do well."

Duffy is 7-8 with a 3.68 ERA this year. During a major league season in which the ball is flying out of parks at an alarming rate, Duffy has allowed only 10 home runs in 120 innings. In 14 of his 19 starts, he has not given up a home run.

Royals right-hander Jason Hammel served up a season-high three home runs Tuesday night, a two-run shot to Khris Davis and solo blasts to Matt Joyce and Matt Olson. Joyce added a three-run double in the eighth.

This marks the fourth straight series the A's have had against teams in contention for the playoffs. Their next eight series will be against playoff contenders, too. They split a four-game series with the Orioles in their previous series and have a chance to take two of three from Kansas City.

"I think it's great for our younger guys here," A's manager Bob Melviin said. "These guys, Baltimore, who we just played, Seattle, (the Los Angeles Angels), they're all in (playoff races). So it's really good for them to play in this type of atmosphere, and especially when you have some success, you feel that much better about yourself at the big league level."

A's rookie right-hander Paul Blackburn has had plenty of success in his first eight major league starts ahead of his Wednesday outing against the Royals.

Blackburn (3-1, 3.02 ERA) has pitched at least 5 1/3 innings in every start and at least six innings six times. He is the second pitcher in Oakland history to throw more than five innings in each of his first eight career starts, joining Willie Adams, who had a 10-game streak to open his career in 1996.

Blackburn lasted 5 2/3 innings in his last start, despite allowing 10 hits and four runs against Baltimore. The A's rallied for a 5-4 win, and Blackburn got a no-decision.

"Having that as kind of your line for the night with not your best stuff -- my stuff was up all night -- just keeping us in the ballgame I think was good," Blackburn said. "We were able to come back and get the win. There's a lot of positives you can take away from games like that."

Blackburn said he worked on "some mechanical stuff" in between starts and believes he will have better command of his pitches Wednesday.

"Kind of got back to feeling right and driving the ball down instead of letting it leak up," Blackburn said. "I feel good."

Blackburn will face Kansas City for the first time in his career.

A's win wild one over Royals

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Kansas City Royals appeared headed for their fourth consecutive victory Tuesday night when Drew Butera and Eric Hosmer hit two-run homers and Mike Moustakas added a solo shot to take an four-run lead with a five-run rally in the top of the eighth inning.

The Oakland Athletics did them one run better in the bottom of the eighth.

The A's scored six times and held on for a wild 10-8 victory at the Oakland Coliseum.

Matt Joyce hit a solo home run in the first inning and a three-run double during the eighth that put the A's ahead 9-8.

"That was awesome," Joyce said. "I'm so proud of these guys. It's obviously tough to give up the runs and give up the lead there late in the game. It's obviously frustrating for everybody over here, but to be able to come back and battle and have good at-bats and start a rally and just come away with the win, it speaks a lot to these guys' ability to keep playing the game, not give up."

The Royals (60-59) fell six games behind the first-place Cleveland Indians in the American League Central. They are a half-game behind the Los Angeles Angels for the second Al wild card.

Khris Davis hit his 33rd home run for the A's, a two-run shot in the third inning, and Matt Olson had a solo blast in the second.

Alex Gordon led off with a walk in the eighth for Kansas City, and Butera hit a tiebreaking blast off reliever Santiago Casilla down the left field line.

Lorenzo Cain singled with one out off Casilla, and Hosmer greeted Blake Treinen with a two-run blast, his 20th of the season, to make it 7-4. Then with two outs, Moustakas sent Treinen's 2-0 pitch into the right field seats for his 35th home run of the season.

The A's sent 10 batters to the plate in the bottom of the eighth to regain the lead. Jed Lowrie led off with a double to right off reliever Joakim Soria, moved to third on Davis' single and scored on Ryon Healy's single. Olson followed with an RBI single.

"He was getting ahead of all the hitters, but he just didn't have his changeup tonight," Royals manager Ned Yost said of Soria. "That's a pretty big out pitch for him."

Soria struck out Matt Chapman, and left-hander Mike Minor (5-5) fanned pinch hitter Chad Pinder for the second out. Minor threw a wild pitch, moving runners to second and third, then fell behind 2-0 in the count to pinch hitter Rajai Davis, who was intentionally walked.

Joyce launched Minor's second pitch off the left field fence, clearing the bases, and Marcus Semien hit an RBI single, making it 10-8.

"I looked back on it and I thought it was a good pitch," Minor said. "The only thing I could say is it was up. I thought it was where I wanted it. It was on the outer fourth of the plate, but it was up and he put a good swing on it."

A's manager Bob Melvin couldn't say enough about his young team's comeback.

"That's really what the culture we want to set with these guys is," Melvin said. "We're going to come back, no matter what. We're going to fight. If we go down, we're going to go down bleeding."

Treinen (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth for his first win as a member of the Athletics.

A's right-hander Chris Smith allowed three runs -- all in the first inning -- on three hits over 5 1/3 innings for a no-decision. He struck out three, walked one and left the game with a 4-3 lead. Smith trailed 3-0 after facing four batters, but after that, he retired 15 of the final 16 Royals he faced.

"Four batters?" Smith said. "It seemed like it was forever. During that first inning, I might have blacked out."

Until the A's bullpen imploded in the eighth, Smith, 36, was in line for his first major league victory as a starter and first win since June 4, 2008, with Boston against Arizona.

Royals right-hander Jason Hammel allowed four runs on eight hits, including a season-high three home runs, over six innings for a no-decision. He struck out six, walked one and pitched at least five innings for the 14th straight start.

The Royals jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Whit Merrifield led off with a walk and moved to second when Smith hit Cain with a pitch. Hosmer lined a two-run double down the right field line, then scored on Melky Cabrera's single to left-center.

NOTES: Royals RHP Jake Junis will remain in the rotation but will have his turn skipped on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series against Cleveland at Kauffman Stadium, manager Ned Yost said Tuesday. The Royals have an off day Thursday, and RHP Jason Hammel will start Sunday's game on his regular four days' rest. ... RHP Chris Hatcher was acquired by Oakland from the Dodgers in exchange for $500,000 in international slot money. Hatcher is 8-14 with a 4.72 ERA in 193 career major league relief appearances. He has missed much of this season with thoracic inflammation but was reinstated from the disabled list Sunday. ... Royals C Salvador Perez (right intercostal strain) threw to second base but did not swing the bat as he continued his rehabilitation program. He took pain-free swings off the batting tee at 30-40 percent effort on Monday. "He's throwing 100 percent," Yost said.

Gallagher's slam highlights Royals' win over A's

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- When Kansas City Royals rookie catcher Cam Gallagher got ahead 3-0 in the count with the bases loaded and two outs in the sixth inning Monday night, he was just looking for a walk.

Gallagher happily settled for a grand slam, his first major league home run, on a 3-2 pitch from rookie right-hander Jharel Cotton. The blast powered the Royals to their third consecutive win, a 6-2 victory against the Oakland Athletics at the Oakland Coliseum.

Gallagher homered in his 10th major league at-bat, his third game and his second start since being called up from Triple-A Omaha on Aug. 6. He was promoted when the Royals placed catcher Salvador Perez (right intercostal strain) on the disabled list.

"I know my timing hasn't been very good the last few days, the last few games, and my first two at-bats I was late," Gallagher said. "I just didn't feel right at the plate. When I got to two strikes, I kind of just shortened up, got my foot down and tried to put the barrel on the ball, and luckily it got the barrel and went over the fence."

Gallagher lined Cotton's fastball down the line into the left field seats, giving Kansas City a 6-1 lead. The Royals had loaded the bases on Melky Cabrera's leadoff walk, Mike Moustakas' sharp single to center and Alcides Escobar's one-out infield single.

"It was awesome," said Royals rookie right-hander Jake Junis, who pitched six strong innings for the win. "So happy for him. It was a big point in the game, too, to get those runs. Luckily the next inning I didn't get too much damage done and we got out of that and kept the pretty decent lead."

Gallagher, who entered the game 1-for-7 with no RBIs or extra-base hits, also hit a leadoff double to left-center in the ninth inning.

Junis (5-2) was called up Monday from Omaha and allowed two runs on four hits for his third straight victory, including one in relief. He struck out two, walked none and hit two batters. For the second consecutive time, he got a big-league victory while pitching to Gallagher, his teammate for five minor league seasons.

"He's a competitor," Gallagher said of Junis. "I know after we came in after that next inning where he gave up that run, he said he was so happy for me he had to lock it in. That's just the kind of relationship we have. He's a competitor and did a heck of a job tonight. He had all four pitches working and came out with a win."

The Royals (60-58) remained five games behind Cleveland in the American League Central and moved to within a half-game of the Los Angles Angels for the second AL wild-card spot. They had lost five straight games and nine of 11 before going on their three-game streak.

"I feel like we're back on track," Royals manager Ned Yost said.

The A's (52-67) cut Kansas City's lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth. Boog Powell lined a leadoff single and moved to third on Matt Joyce's single. Junis hit Ryon Healy with a pitch to load the bases with one out, then hit Khris Davis, forcing in a run. Junis retired Matt Olson on a foul popup and struck out Chad Pinder to end the inning.

"We just had a rough game all the way around, and when we had opportunities we didn't come through with them, and when we had a chance to get out of innings, we didn't get out of them," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

Marcus Semien went 2-for-4 with a triple and scored a run for Oakland.

Cotton (5-10) gave up six runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked three, struck out two and lost his third straight decision. He held the Royals to two runs until Gallagher's slam.

"I wasn't trying to be too fine," Cotton said. "I was just trying to give it my best on that pitch, and it just wasn't there."

Mike Minor, Brandon Maurer and Ryan Buchter each pitched a scoreless inning in relief for the Royals.

Kansas City took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Whit Merrifield hit a leadoff single, stole second base and scored on Eric Hosmer's single.

The A's pulled even with a run in the bottom of the inning. Semien tripled off the left-center-field wall with one out and scored on Healy's groundout.

Kansas City regained the lead at 2-1 in second inning. Escobar lined a two-out single to left, moved to third on Alex Gordon's single to right and scored on wild pitch by Cotton.

NOTES: Royals C Salvador Perez (right intercostal strain) caught a bullpen session and took 10 to 15 swings off a batting tee at 30 to 40 percent effort on Monday as he continued his recovery. Perez has been out since Aug. 5. "I feel pretty good," Perez said of swinging the bat. ... RHP Kevin McCarthy was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Monday, opening a spot on the Royals' 25-man roster for RHP Jake Junis, who was called up and started against Oakland. ... A's INF/DH Ryon Healy hit safely in his eighth straight game against Kansas City to start his career. He went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI and was hit by a pitch. ... Oakland RHP Bobby Wahl had successful thoracic outlet surgery in Dallas, the A's announced. He will return to Oakland on Thursday to begin his rehab.

A's top O's to earn series split

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kendall Graveman pitched seven strong innings, and Matt Chapman, Matt Joyce and Matt Olson homered, leading the Oakland Athletics to a 9-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum.

The A's picked up a split in the four-game series and delivered a blow to the Orioles' wild-card playoff push.

Graveman (3-3) posted his first win in three starts since being reinstated from the disabled list on Aug. 1 after missing more than two months with a strained right shoulder. He allowed two runs and eight hits with a season-high eight strikeouts and one walk.

Chapman hit a three-run shot, his eighth homer of the season, during a five-run fourth inning. Joyce hit a two-run blast, his 16th of the season, in the seventh.

Olson added a solo shot in the eighth, homering for the third straight game. The homer was his seventh of the season.

Manny Machado hit his 22nd home run for the Orioles, a solo shot leading off the eighth.

Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson (7-7) made his third start since coming to the Orioles from Philadelphia in a trade on July 28 and failed to have a quality start for the first time. Hellickson gave up six runs and five hits in five innings with five strikeouts and two walks.

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Machado tripled down the right field line and Jonathan Schoop lined an RBI single. They extended their lead to 2-0 in the second. Mark Trumbo led off with a double down the left field line, and Chris Davis brought him home with a single to left-center field.

Oakland scored five runs in the fourth to build a 5-2 lead. Marcus Semien lined a leadoff single to right, moved to second with one out on a walk by Khris Davis and scored on Ryon Healy's opposite-field double grounded down the right field line.

The A's pulled even when Olson hit a ground ball, and Khris Davis beat first baseman Chris Davis' throw home.

That brought Chapman to the plate, and he lined Hellickson's 1-2 changeup over the left field fence for a three-run shot, giving Oakland a 5-2 lead.

The A's made it 6-2 in the fifth. Joyce lined a leadoff double off the left field fence, stole third base and scored on Semien's sacrifice fly to left field. Oakland extended its lead to 8-2 in the seventh on Joyce's two-run blast off reliever Richard Bleier.

At that point, Orioles right-hander Chris Tillman took over for his first career relief appearance after 194 starts. He pitched 1 1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts. Tillman went 1-7 with a 8.10 ERA in 15 starts this season.

Shortstop Tim Beckham went 0-for-4, ending his career-high 12-game hitting streak to start his Orioles career.

NOTES: Orioles OF Anthony Santander (right forearm strain) is expected to be officially activated from the disabled list on Thursday, two days after his rehab assignment with Double-A Bowie ends, Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. He said the Orioles have 48 hours to activate Santander after his rehab assignment ends. Santander is a Rule 5 Draft selection from Cleveland and must remain with the Orioles for the entire season or be offered back to the Indians for $25,000. ... Oakland C Josh Phegley (strained left oblique) will work out with the A's again Monday, and if all goes well he'll likely begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville on Tuesday or Wednesday, manager Bob Melvin said. ... LHP Sean Manaea, who gave up six runs and six hits in one-third of an inning Saturday in a 12-5 loss to Baltimore, is expected to make his next scheduled start, Melvin said. "He basically got almost a (skipped turn) last night in that he threw (28) pitches," Melvin said. "I don't know that after an outing like that you'd skip a start. I mean anything's possible, but I don't' think that's one of the options right now."

Beckham helps Orioles blast Athletics

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- It is safe to say that playing for the Baltimore Orioles agrees with shortstop Tim Beckham.

Beckham went 4-for-5 with a career-high three doubles and three RBIs in a 12-5 rout of the Oakland Athletics on Saturday night at Oakland Coliseum.

Beckham matched a career high with a 12-game hitting streak to begin his Orioles career. He is batting .531 since being traded to Baltimore from Tampa Bay on July 31. Beckham has seven doubles, two triples, three homers and nine RBIs for the Orioles.

"It's fun," said Beckham, who also scored three runs. "You're playing good and your team's playing winning baseball. It's always fun. That's the end goal. The end goal is to win ballgames and be in the playoffs. That's what we're shooting for."

Baltimore trails the Los Angeles Angels by 1 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot in the American League.

Beckham wasn't the Orioles' only hitting star Saturday. They pounded out a season-high-tying 20 hits, matching their total of a 13-inning game on May 16 at Detroit. Adam Jones went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs, and Joey Rickard went 3-for-4 with a double and three runs. He was also hit by a pitch.

Every starter except catcher Welington Castillo had at least one hit for the Orioles (58-59).

Orioles right-hander Dylan Bundy (12-8) won his fourth straight game, matching his career high set earlier this season. He allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings with three walks. He struck out 10 for the second straight start, matching his career high, and made good use again of a sharp slider.

By the time he took the mound, Baltimore owned a 7-0 lead.

"It's great," Bundy said. "You can really just go after hitters and try to pound the strike zone."

A's left-hander Sean Manaea (8-7) had the shortest start of his career, allowing six runs and six hits in one-third of an inning. The only out came on a relay to home plate.

Manaea walked one and didn't strike out a batter. He had his third straight rough start, and the velocity on his fastball was down to 90-91 mph again instead of his typical 93.

"It's been down for a while here," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Manaea's velocity. "I think maybe it's a dead-arm stage. I don't know if it's dead arm. It's August. He's got a hundred-plus innings. He got an extra day (of rest) this time, but he's going to have to figure it out in his bullpens."

Manaea made no excuses for his recent struggles.

"I've been pitching really bad. That's all I can really say about this," Manaea said. "Physically I feel great. No problems at all."

Khris Davis hit his 32nd home run of the season, a two-run shot, and rookie Matt Olson hit his sixth blast, a solo home run, for Oakland.

Center fielder Boog Powell made his A's debut and went 1-for-4 with a walk, three strikeouts, a run and an outfield assist. Powell had been slated to play Friday, but he was a late scratch because of an upper respiratory infection and an asthma attack that sent him to the emergency room at a local hospital.

The Orioles struck quickly, building a commanding lead in the first inning.

Baltimore had eight hits in the inning, including doubles by Manny Machado, Jones, Mark Trumbo and Beckham. The Orioles sent 11 batters to the plate.

Beckham led off with a walk and scored on Machado's double off the left-center field wall. Jonathan Schoop lined a single to right, moving Machado to third. Jones drove in Machado with a double to left, but Schoop was thrown out at the plate on a relay from Davis in left to shortstop Marcus Semien to catcher Bruce Maxwell.

Trey Mancini made it 3-0 with an RBI single, driving in Jones, and moved to third on Trumbo's double. Chris Davis grounded an RBI single to right, making it 4-0 and ending Manaea's night as Michael Brady took over.

Castillo brought Trumbo home when he grounded into a fielder's choice. Rickard singled, and Beckham increased Baltimore's lead to 7-0 with a double to left.

The Orioles were coming off a tough 5-4 loss Friday night to the A's, which made getting off to a fast start "very important," Beckham said.

"I commend our team for putting together quality at-bats and putting up a seven-spot in the first inning," Beckham said. "That was huge. It takes the breath out of the other team."

Oakland cut the deficit to 7-2 in the bottom of the first inning when Powell led off with a walk and Khris Davis launched a two-run homer with two outs. Olson led off the second with a solo home run into the right field seats.

Baltimore answered with two runs in the fourth. After Rickard was hit by a pitch and moved to third on Beckham's double, Jones lined a two-run single to center.

NOTES: Orioles RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (sore right calf) came out of his start against Oakland on Friday night with one out after getting hit by a comebacker on his right calf, but Orioles manager Buck Showalter said he expects him to make his next start. "He'll be fine," Showalter said. "The biggest problem he had, that's the same place he got hit in Minnesota (on July 9)." ... A's OF Jake Smolinski (right shoulder surgery) began a rehab assignment with Class A Stockton and served as the designated hitter. Smolinski's throwing shoulder is still not healthy enough for game action. He has been on the disabled list since March 30. ... A's RHP Liam Hendriks made his team-high 52nd relief appearance and pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

Orioles back Miley with four homers in win over A's

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND -- Wade Miley isn't willing to say he is pitching as well as he can, but he was certainly good enough Thursday night.

The Orioles left-hander produced his first quality start since June 1, and twice the Orioles hit back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches to provide plenty of support in Baltimore's 7-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.

Miley (6-9) allowed only one unearned run and three hits over seven innings. He struck out seven and walked three while throwing 111 pitches (66 for strikes).

"I kind of struggled a little bit that first inning trying to find my command, but we stuck with it, stuck with the game plan, and it worked out," Miley said.

Closer Zach Britton, the fourth Oriole reliever, got the final out with the bases loaded for his 10th save of the season and 58th straight successful conversation over two years.

Trey Mancini hit a pair of long balls to reach 20 home runs for the first time in his brief career. Adam Jones hit his 21st home run -- a tape-measure blast -- and Mark Trumbo awoke from a slumber to hit his 18th as the Orioles produced nine extra-base hits before earning their first single as late as the eighth inning.

"All my starts are tough, but that lineup is deadly," A's starter and loser Chris Smith said. "Man, they just kept on attacking. They made the adjustments on my mistakes, and they hit them. They hit them hard and far."

Smith (0-2) allowed five runs on seven hits, including the four homers, in six innings.

The Orioles staked Miley to an early lead by scoring a run in the first before getting two home runs in the fourth.

Red-hot Tim Beckham (2-for-5) hit a ball off the top of the center-field fence for a leadoff triple in the first, and he scored when Manny Machado followed with a slow roller to third.

Jones and Mancini belted long homers to left field in the fourth after Oakland had tied the game in the first when Lowrie's sacrifice fly to right plated Rajai Davis, who led off with a single.

Baltimore pounded two more long balls in succession with one out in the sixth as Mancini and Trumbo went deep to left off Smith for a 5-1 lead.

"It was just the homers," A's manager Bob Melvin said in defense of his starter. "We got some balls up, they squared 'em up. Other than that, he had guys off-balance. ... Every mistake he made, they made him pay for it and hit homers. That's what they do when they're swinging the bat well."

The rest was up to Miley, who retired Oakland in order in the second, third and seventh innings.

"I had a couple quick innings in the middle -- second, third and fourth -- that allowed me to go deeper in the game," Miley said. "I was able to throw strikes and get ahead. I'm not exactly where I want to be -- I still don't have the fastball command I'd like -- but I'm using the breaking ball and cutter to get ahead a little more now and it's working out."

Orioles manager Buck Showalter added, "He attacked both sides of the plate. He had more than one pitch working. Guys like playing behind him, he puts zeros up."

Miley was cruising along already even before the Orioles tacked on two unearned runs in the seventh inning to boost their lead to 7-1. Beckham doubled to right with one out before Jonathan Schoop reached on an infield error. Both scored when Jones bounced a double into the left-field corner. Jones had three RBIs.

"Adam had two big hits for us tonight," Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

Oakland rallied for a run in the eighth off reliever Darren O'Day when Jed Lowrie's second double of the game plated Marcus Semien, who led off the frame with a single. However, O'Day got out of a two-on, no-out jam with a strikeout and a double play.

NOTES: Baltimore DH Mark Trumbo was dropped to sixth in the batting order in an effort to get out of a slump. His home run snapped an 0-for-24 drought. ... Oakland 3B Matt Chapman left the game after two innings with an illness. Ryon Healy moved from first base to third, and Matt Olson took over at first. A's manager Bob Melvin said afterward Chapman was dehydrated before the game, and he didn't want to come out. ... The Orioles have hit back-to-back home runs nine times this season

Cruz, Seager slug Mariners past Athletics

(TSX / STATS) -- OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kyle Seager was on deck when Seattle Mariners teammate Nelson Cruz crushed a two-run, 450-foot home run into the left field seats in the third inning Wednesday afternoon against the Oakland Athletics.

"That's probably the loudest ball I've heard hit on a field," Seager said. "Just from where I was right there. I was pretty close to him, but it was a pop. It sounded like a shotgun. It was incredible just how fast it got out, just how hard he hit it. It was pretty special."

Cruz had yet another loud and special day against the A's, hitting his 25th and 26th home runs in the Mariners' 6-3 victory over the A's at the Oakland Coliseum. Seager did his part, launching a three-run blast in the first inning.

Cruz added a solo blast in the fifth for his second multi-homer game of the season and 23rd career.

"I feel 100 percent healthy," Cruz said. "Thank God. Hopefully I stay like that."

Cruz drove in three runs, giving him 22 RBIs in 13 games against the A's in 2017, the most by a Mariners' player versus Oakland in a single season. He has seven home runs against the A's this year and 29 for his career, his second highest total against any team. Cruz has a career-high 98 RBIs against the A's and Angels.

Cruz said he can't explain his success against the A's.

"I guess luck," Cruz said.

If that's the case, then Cruz has plenty of good luck against most teams in the major leagues.

"I don't think it's just the A's," Seager said. "I remember playing against him and he used to do it to us, too. He's a lot of fun to watch and you certainly want him on your team. He hit a ball I remember against us that I actually jumped for (at third base) and it ended up being a homer. He's incredible."

The Mariners (59-56) won for the fourth time in their past five contests and finished their nine-game road trip with a 6-3 mark after sweeping a two-game series from Oakland. They entered the day in a three-way tie for the second wild-card spot in the American League with Kansas City and Tampa Bay.

"I think once we were one-half game behind in the wild card, I think everybody just put the switch on," Cruz said. "Every little piece that we needed early in the year is clicking right now."

Mariners right-hander Yovani Gallardo allowed three runs on six hits, including two home runs, over 4 1/3 innings to receive a no-decision. He struck out three, walked two and threw 94 pitches.

Emilio Pagan (1-2) blanked the A's on one hit over 2 1/3 innings for his first major league victory. Tony Zych pitched a perfect eighth inning and Edwin Diaz a scoreless ninth for his 25th save.

Khris Davis hit his 31st home run, a solo shot in the third, and Matt Joyce added his 15th, a leadoff homer in the first, for the A's.

Oakland right-hander Jharel Cotton (5-9) allowed six runs on eight hits, including three home runs, over six innings. He struck out four and walked one in his third straight rough start since coming off the disabled list after recovering from a blister on his right thumb.

"The one to Seager was just a changeup not well executed," Cotton said. "The two to Cruz were not executed. Just three not executed pitches and it cost me today. Cost the team a victory."

The Mariners took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on Seager's 17th home run of the season, a three-run shot into the right field seats. Jean Segura and Robinson Cano were on base with singles, and Seager delivered with two outs, driving Cotton's 1-2 changeup.

"He's got good stuff," Seager said of Cotton. "He's got a good changeup. We know about that. Fortunate for me, I was able to get one up in the zone and it worked out."

Oakland answered with Joyce's leadoff homer in the bottom of the first. Joyce led off a game with a homer for the third time this season and for the seventh time of his career.

Seattle increased its lead to 5-1 in the top of the third when Cano lined a leadoff single and Cruz crushed Cotton's belt-high, 90 mph fastball into the left field seats.

Davis cut Seattle's lead to 5-2 with his solo blast to right-center with two outs in the bottom of the inning.

Cruz made it 6-2 in the fifth with his second homer of the day off Cotton, a solo blast over the center-field fence with one out.

"The homers kind of did him in," A's manager Bob Melvin said of Cotton. "Other than that, we needed at least six innings out of our starter today. At the end he seemed like he got a little better. You just have to keep them down earlier, minimize the damage some."

Oakland responded with a run in the bottom of the third when Joyce lined a leadoff single and scored on Jed Lowrie's double. Before Lowrie brought Joyce home, left fielder Ben Gamel robbed Marcus Semien of a possible home run when he made a leaping catch and held on after slamming into the fence.

"That was a heck of a catch," Mariners manager Scott Servais said. "He took off. No worries just throwing his body out there trying to make a play. He went after it, kind of like he's done all year."

NOTES: A's RHP Bobby Wahl (strained right shoulder) will be examined by Dr. Gregory Pearl, a vascular surgeon, in Dallas on Friday. Wahl has been on the DL since May 24 and missed his 69th game Wednesday. ... A's C Josh Phegley (strained left oblique) will likely begin a rehab assignment in a week or so, manager Bob Melvin said. Phegley has been on the disabled list since July 25. ... Mariners LHP Ariel Miranda entered play Wednesday leading the major-leagues in a dubious statistical category -- home runs allowed. He has surrendered 29 home runs, including two on Tuesday against Oakland. "It's not great," Mariners manager Scott Servais said Wednesday. "We got to try to address it. The home runs have certainly hurt. We need to get him back on track." ... Seattle 1B Yonder Alonso went 0-for-4 in his second game since being traded by Oakland to the Mariners.

Alonso likely to make Mariners debut in Oakland

Stats, LLC

(TSX / STATS) -- Yonder Alonso might struggle with the little things. Like where to park at the Oakland Coliseum. Which clubhouse door to take. When batting practice starts.

The Seattle Mariners hope the All-Star first baseman has no problem with the bigger things, like driving in runs.

The Mariners acquired Alonso in a trade with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in exchange for minor league outfielder Boog Powell.

Alonso is expected to make his Mariners debut Tuesday when the teams open a two-game series in Oakland.

Alonso admitted Sunday he was stunned when told of the trade.

"Surprised but excited, going to a team that is one game out of the playoffs," Alonso said. "I get to play some meaningful baseball, which will be probably the first time in my career I'll be able to do that. I'm ecstatic."

In eight seasons with Cincinnati (2010-11), San Diego (2012-15) and Oakland (2016-17), Alonso has hit .269 with 61 home runs and 288 RBIs in 762 games.

The 30-year-old made his first All-Star Game this season, batting .266 with a career-high 22 homers and 49 RBIs in 100 games with the A's.

"Yonder fits our roster quite well," Mariners general manager Jerry Dipoto said after the trade was announced. "Obviously, he's had an excellent year to this point, an All-Star season, real breakout year for him. We are acquiring a bat that gives us a difference in the middle of our lineup.

The left-handed-hitting Alonso is likely to platoon with his former Oakland teammate Danny Valencia at first base. The two were friends when with the A's, and Valencia was one of the first players Alonso texted after learning of the deal.

"I feel like it's a complement he brings to our lineup, particularly the left-handed bat and how he pairs with Valencia, which they've done before," Dipoto said. "It's a balance he brings to our lineup, especially looking ahead, we've got quite a stretch of right-handed starters that we are seeing over the next three weeks. This is something we discussed for a length of time heading into the July 31 deadline. We felt like we were at the goal line to get a deal done. And through the August trade period, we were able to complete it."

Powell, originally drafted by Oakland in the 20th round in 2012, batted .194 in 23 games with the Mariners this season. He was hitting .340 at Triple-A Tacoma.

"Clearly they're going young, and they're going to be patient as well," Alonso said of the A's. "I think definitely the sky is the limit here with these young guys. There is a lot of talent in this clubhouse. ... The future is bright here."

The A's plan to call up Matt Olson and platoon him at first base with Ryon Healy.

"It's time for Matt Olson to get a chance to play here," A's manager Bob Melvin said Sunday. "A few years ago, this guy was our top prospect, and he does a lot of things really well. He's a great defender. He's having a good season, he gets on base. This kind of opens the door for him and Healy to match up at first base, and stays along with the theme that we're getting younger."

Olson, 23, is batting .272 with 23 homers and 60 RBIs in 79 games at Triple-A Nashville. In five previous stints with the A's this season, he hit .196 with four homers and nine RBIs.

"Obviously, I can't thank the Oakland A's enough for the opportunity they gave me," Alonso said. "They believed in me and helped me mature and recharge my career."

Alonso likely will make his Mariners debut in the series opener as Oakland is scheduled to start right-hander Kendall Graveman (2-3, 4.96 ERA). Graveman is 1-3 with a 4.82 ERA in eight career appearances against Seattle, including six starts. He has not faced the Mariners this season.

The Mariners are set to counter with left-hander Ariel Miranda (7-5, 4.41 ERA), who is 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA in two career starts against the A's. He took the loss April 22 at Oakland, giving up four runs on seven hits in three innings during Seattle's 4-3 defeat.

Athletics' offense spearheads comeback vs. Angels

(TSX / STATS) -- ANAHEIM, Calif. -- There were many stories about the Oakland Athletics trading away three key pitchers near the trade deadline. What many forgot is that their offense remained essentially intact.

And it went on the attack Sunday.

Trailing by four runs with two outs in the eighth inning Sunday, the A's ripped six straight hits off Los Angeles Angels relievers Blake Parker and Bud Norris to pull out an 11-10 win Sunday and take the weekend series from the Angels.

With two outs, Jed Lowrie singled off Parker and Khris Davis hit his 29th home run to left field to cut the lead to 10-8. Ryon Healy then doubled off Parker to end the reliever's day.

Norris (1-5) entered and gave up a run-scoring single to Chad Pinder, his fourth hit of the game, to make it 10-9. Matt Chapman doubled to put the runners in scoring position, and Bruce Maxwell lined a single to right to score both and give Oakland the lead.

The A's had 18 hits on the day, four by Pinder and two each by Jaycob Brugman, Marcus Semien, Lowrie, Davis, Healy and Chapman. Mark Canha also had a three-run home run.

"This team doesn't quit," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It was a hot day and a long game, but this team kept taking good at-bats all game long. These guys have a lot of confidence in each other."

Pinder's day was extraordinary. He doubled and scored the first run in a four-run fourth, homered to start the seventh and begin the chipping-away process, and singled to greet Norris in the eighth and make it a one-run game at 10-9.

"I just try to keep it simple," Pinder said. "If you think too much, you can get out of rhythm. We just come to work each day."

Melvin was ecstatic that Maxwell, the A's catcher, had the game-winning hit late in a game that lasted 4 hours, 12 minutes, much of it squatting on a hot day.

"Four-plus hours and he stayed in the game mentally," Melvin said. "That was probably his best at-bat in two weeks. Guys in that situation have to find some mental tenacity."

The Angels had 12 hits, three by Kole Calhoun and two each by C.J. Cron and Juan Graterol. Mike Trout hit his 22nd home run.

Both starting pitchers had rocky outings. Angels starter Ricky Nolasco went four-plus innings and giving up nine hits -- six of them extra-base hits -- and three walks. A's starter Sean Manaea allowed six hits and six runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Josh Smith (2-0) pitched a scoreless inning and Blake Treinen earned his second save for Oakland.

The Angels led 10-5 after six but manager Mike Scioscia didn't think they had the game won.

"You never think that," he said. "You know you don't have it until you get the last out in the ninth. There may have been a time when you think the game is going on your terms, but you still have to close it.

"You look at 10 runs on the scoreboard so this one stings. They snatched this one from us."

It was the third time in two weeks that the Angels have seen a game yanked from their hands late. They trailed Cleveland in late July 7-0 and rallied to tie but lost the game in the 11th when Norris was victimized by a grand slam. Last weekend, they led Toronto 10-4 going into the ninth and lost again when the Blue Jays scored seven in the ninth, the game ending on a slam off Norris.

The Angels loaded the bases in the bottom of the eighth against Santiago Casillas but left them stranded.

NOTES: A's 1B Yonder Alonso was traded to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for OF Boog Powell before the game. Alonso, 30, was named to the AL All-Star team thanks to a career year, hitting .266 with 22 home runs and 49 RBIs. Alonso was placed on revocable waivers and the Mariners put in a claim, leading to the trade. Alonso is a free agent for 2018. Powell, who made his major league debut this season and was originally drafted by the A's in 2012, hit .194 for the Mariners with two RBIs in 23 games. ... Angels 3B Yunel Escobar suffered an intercostal strain in the seventh and left the game. He was scheduled for a MRI exam on Sunday evening. ... LF Cameron Maybin is expected to be activated off the DL Monday after playing two games for Triple-A Salt Lake. He's been on the DL for three weeks with a MCL knee strain. ... CF Mike Trout homered in the third inning, the 22nd of the season, and needs just one more hit for 1,000 in his career. He turns 26 Monday and has a hit in 17 of 19 games since returning from the disabled list. ... LHP Andrew Heaney made a rehab start for Triple-A Salt Lake Sunday, going 5 1/3 innings with six hits, three runs, two walks and five strikeouts. The Angels will decide soon if he needs one more rehab start before being activated.

Mariners obtain All-Star 1B Alonso from Athletics

(TSX / STATS) -- The Seattle Mariners acquired All-Star first baseman Yonder Alonso from the Oakland Athletics on Sunday in exchange for minor league outfielder Boog Powell.

Alonso, 30, was hitting .266 with 22 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .369 on-base percentage, .527 slugging mark and a .896 OPS in 100 games with Oakland this season.

The 2017 American League All-Star has set career highs in home runs, on-base percentage, slugging and OPS. Alonso's previous career high for homers in a single season was nine in 2012 with the San Diego Padres.

"I can't thank the Oakland A's enough for the opportunity they gave me," Alonso told reporters after the announcement. "They believed in me and helped me mature and recharge my career."

Alonso said he was initially stunned when informed of the deal.

"Surprised but excited, going to a team that is one game out of the playoffs," Alonso said. "I get to play some meaningful baseball, which will be probably the first time in my career I'll be able to do that. I'm ecstatic."

In parts of eight major league seasons with Cincinnati (2010-11), San Diego (2012-15) and Oakland (2016-17), Alonso has combined to hit .269 with 61 home runs, 288 RBIs and a .339 on-base percentage in 762 games.

Powell, 24, hit .194 (7-for-36) with two RBIs in 23 games over three stints with Seattle this season as he made his major league debut. He spent the majority of the season with Triple-A Tacoma, batting .340 with six home runs and 33 RBIs in 58 games.

The Mariners also acquired right-handed pitcher Ryan Garton and catcher Mike Marjama from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for left-hander Anthony Misiewicz, infielder Luis Rengifo and a player to be named later.

Garton, 27, made his major league debut with Tampa Bay in 2016. In parts of two big-league seasons (2016-2017) he is 1-3 with a 5.26 ERA and one save in 44 relief appearances. For Triple-A Durham, he is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA and four saves in 24 games, including one start.

Marjama, 28, spent the season with Durham, hitting .274 with nine home runs and 51 RBIs in 72 games.

Misiewicz, 20, went 8-5 with a 4.75 ERA in 23 starts combined between High-A Modesto and Double-A Arkansas this season.

Rengifo, 20, hit .250 with 11 homers and 44 RBIs in 102 games with Class A Clinton this season.

In addition, Seattle designated catcher Tuffy Gosewisch for assignment.

Gosewisch, 33, spent the majority of the season at Triple-A, but also appeared in 11 games with Seattle, hitting .071 (2-for-28).

Angels overcome four-run deficit to top A's 8-6

(TSX / STATS) -- ANAHEIM, Calif. -- No one is calling the Los Angeles Angels' offense a juggernaut, not when the team has scored three runs or fewer 53 times in 110 games.

But they have definitely gotten warmer at the plate at the right time. The Angels bounced back from a four-run deficit Friday night against the Oakland Athletics to take an 8-6 win, get back to .500 for the first time since July 2 and find themselves just two games behind in the American League race for the second wild-card playoff spot. They've won four straight and six of seven.

Cliff Pennington and Luis Valbuena had clutch two-run singles in the sixth and seventh, Pennington's in the sixth cutting the margin to 6-4 and Valbuena's in the seventh tying the game. Yunel Escobar followed with an infield single to take the lead and Mike Trout singled home a run for insurance.

It was the ninth game in the last 14 that Los Angeles has scored six runs or more. The Angels are hitting over .280 in that period and averaging almost six runs a game. They hit .221 in the previous 20 games.

"We know what the offense has been through this season, mostly inconsistent," left fielder Ben Revere, who had two hits, an RBI and scored the winning run, said. "But we also knew we would snap through it and go on a streak. We know we're capable of scoring runs."

Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia has been talking all season about lengthening the lineup -- getting clutch hits from the bottom of the order. That's where many of the big hits have come from lately.

"The last 10 games or so, we're putting a lot of pressure on teams -- running the bases aggressively, getting hits from the bottom of the lineup, getting guys in scoring position," Scioscia said. "You just have to keep pressing teams."

They received an assist from the Oakland bullpen, which blew up in diverse ways.

The A's led 6-2 when starter Jharel Cotton came out in the fifth, but reliever Liam Hendriks allowed two inherited runners to score. Daniel Coulombe started the seventh and walked the first three batters he faced to load the bases.

Blake Treinen came in and gave up the three hits in the seventh.

"We made our own bed," manager Bob Melvin said. "That's Daniel's usual spot, and he couldn't throw a strike. Then we bring in our closer in the seventh and put him in a bad spot. Six runs should have been enough to win that game."

Melvin admitted the bullpen is being renovated after Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson were traded at the end of July.

Matt Chapman hit a three-run home run off Angels starter Troy Scribner in the second, and Khris Davis had a two-run double in the fifth for Oakland. Scribner went four-plus innings and allowed two hits, five runs and walked four in his first major league start. Jesse Chavez (6-10) got the win in relief, with Blake Parker and Bud Norris (18th save) finishing up. Coulombe (2-2) took the loss.

NOTES: Angels RHP Matt Shoemaker had to shut down a bullpen session Friday and he may be lost for the season after pain resurfaced in his right forearm. He has a radial nerve compression condition that continues to flare on him, and he and the team doctors are now considering surgery. ... LF Cameron Maybin went 2-for-4 with a double and stolen base in a rehab assignment for Triple-A Salt Lake. He will make one more rehab start and will be activated Sunday or Monday. ... Angels RHP Daniel Wright was recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake. OF Ramon Flores was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake. He was recalled while Kole Calhoun was unavailable after a minor hamstring strain. He was 1-for-8 with a RBI in three games. ... SS Andrelton Simmons extended his hitting streak to 13 games, tying his career high. ... A's RHP Daniel Gossett (3-6, 5.17 ERA) was optioned to Nashville. ... The A's picked up C Dustin Garneau off waivers from the Colorado Rockies. He hit .206 with one home run and six RBIs in 68 at-bats with the Rockies.