Oakland Athletics’ Khris Davis
Unable to land a starter at the trade deadline, the Oakland Athletics got a big lift from one they already had and gave manager Bob Melvin a milestone victory.
They also moved one game closer to Seattle in the race for the AL wild card.
Trevor Cahill had six strikeouts in six innings, Khris Davis homered among his three hits, and the A’s beat the Toronto Blue Jays 6-2 yesterday [Macau time].
Cahill (3-2) overcame an uneven night and allowed two runs on five hits. The right-hander has won consecutive starts for the first time since May 2017.
“Early on I’m not sure his command was as good as it normally is but he got better and better as he went along,” Melvin said. “Next thing you know he gives us six innings, and six innings makes it a lot easier on us.”
Cahill yielded a two-out RBI single to Kendrys Morales in the first and Justin Smoak’s leadoff homer in the fourth but got a pair of double plays while giving Oakland’s bullpen a break.
“Just finding a groove,” Cahill said. “You never know what your stuff’s going to be like and you just try to make adjustments. I was able do that a little bit going deeper into the game.”
Yusmeiro Petit, Jeurys Familia and Blake Treinen retired three batters apiece to complete the six-hitter.
Matt Olson had two RBIs, Mark Canha doubled twice and stole home and Marcus Semien added two hits.
Melvin celebrated his 600th win as manager of the A’s — tied for third- most in franchise history behind Connie Mack (3,582) and Tony LaRussa (798).
“One more than 599,” Melvin said.
Oakland moved within one game of Seattle for the second wild card. The A’s are 29-10 since June 16, the best record in baseball.
Despite being in the thick of a playoff race, Oakland stayed quiet as the trade deadline passed. There were reports early in the day linking the A’s to a trade with Detroit but nothing materialized.
That was fine with Cahill.
“It might not be the big-name guys or the big-price guys like some other teams have but with our offense and our bullpen, if we all just do our part we’ll be fine,” he said.
Justin Smoak homered for Toronto, which has lost six of eight.
Olson’s two-run single off Sam Gaviglio (2-4) in the first put the A’s up 2-1.
“(Gaviglio) was off,” Toronto manager John Gibbons said. “He’s a control guy and when he’s not throwing strikes, pin- pointing it, he’s going to get hit around a little bit. We’ve seem that before.”
After Davis hit his 29th homer leading off the third, Canha and Semien pulled off a double steal with Canha sliding into home to beat the throw from second baseman Devon Travis.
TULO HOPING TO PLAY: Toronto shortstop Troy Tulowitzki made a rare appearance with the team in Oakland and said he still hopes to play this season. Tulowitzki underwent surgery on both of his heels in the offseason and has been rehabbing since then. “I’m doing better, just not 100 percent yet,” Tulowitzki said. “There’s good days, there’s bad days.”
TRAINER’S ROOM: Blue Jays: 2B Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will be sidelined indefinitely after being diagnosed with a left high ankle sprain and bruised knee. Gurriel has a franchise record 11 consecutive multi- hit games. Newly acquired reliever Ken Giles isn’t expected to join the team until Thursday in Seattle.
Athletics: RHP Daniel Gossett will undergo Tommy John surgery, making him the fourth Oakland pitcher to have the reconstructive surgery this year. Gossett was 0-3 with a 5.18 ERA in five starts this season. … RHP Andrew Triggs (right arm nerve irritation) has begun a throwing program. Michael Wagaman, Oakland, AP
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