A's remain motivated after winning streak comes to an end

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It was fun while it lasted, but the A's winning streak officially came to an end with an 8-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Sunday.

Winners of 13 straight, the A's responded to their 1-7 start to the season in a huge way as they strung together their third-longest winning streak in franchise history. 

After the loss, A's manager Bob Melvin discussed how the team was able to turn things around after a rough start to the season. 

“I’ve had to try and explain this for a while now," Melvin said. "We got off to a tough start, and it did not go our way, it was ugly for six or seven games, and went the opposite after that. When you have a veteran group who has been through it before, they don’t really get too down. They got more upset more than anything else after the first [week of the season], and then we went on a nice run. We’ll try and start one tomorrow.”

Jesús Luzardo, who allowed seven hits, three earned runs and two walks while striking out eight in 6 2/3 innings, revealed how the team maintained a cool and calm demeanor after starting off on the wrong note. 

“I just think it speaks a lot about this team and the character in the clubhouse," Luzardo said. "When we were 0-6, everyone outside was panicking and we were still chilling with smiles on our faces. Not that we were happy that we were losing, but I just feel like this team responds well to pressure. The way that we bounced back after that, going on the run that we did, it’s time to start a new wave, that’s kind of our new thing now.”

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Matt Chapman, who has struggled throughout the month of April, broke down how the A's were able to maintain their streak.

“We didn’t really change anything, we just ran into two good teams," Chapman said. "It was really early, we were a confident group and knew that if we just kept playing our game and kept working to get better that things were going to turn around. We started putting together good at-bats and once we got hot we got rolling. I don't know if we would have predicted that we were going to win 13 in a row like that, but who would have thought that we were going to lose six in a row to start the season. It all evened itself out and we’re right where we need to be to make a run at this thing.”

After a rough start to the season, the A's win streak propelled them atop the AL West as they prepare to begin a new streak against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.

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