Canha sets Oakland single-season for most plunkings

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There are three things guaranteed in life: Death, taxes and Mark Canha getting hit by pitches. 

On Wednesday night in the top of the eighth inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field, the Athletics' outfielder got hit in the left elbow pad at the plate. It would be the 21st hit by a pitch for Canha which is the most in Oakland A’s single-season history.

The 21 HPB’s also are the most currently in Major League Baseball. 

After Canha got on base and advanced to second on a single from outfielder Starling Marte, Jed Lowrie hit a three-run home run to score all three, extending the A’s lead to 6-3. Getting on base has become one of Canha’s strengths this season. 

As far as A’s history goes, behind Canha sits Jason Kendall who had been plunked 20 times in 2005. Canha also had 18 hit-by-pitches in 2019, which is fifth-most in Oakland A’s history for a single season. 

Canha joked before that the reasoning behind being hit by the ball so much was due to opposing players not liking him. While that’s hard to believe, there’s something going on that makes him a unique target.

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The 32-year-old has been hitting leadoff all season after the A’s lost Marcus Semien to the Toronto Blue Jays in free agency.

Canha liked the idea of being the first guy to get to the pitcher during the game, and it appears that’s not going to stop anytime soon. 

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