OAKLAND — Absolutely nothing fazes this young A's team. At least that's how it seems.
After registering just two hits in a disappointing loss Tuesday night, the A's burst out of the gates Wednesday with four runs in the first inning en route to a dominant 8-2 victory over the Yankees.
Oakland improved to 18-4 in games following a loss since June 15.
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“They don't worry about the day before,” manager Bob Melvin said. “It's become a trend for us all year. To get off to the start we did against a really tough pitcher today after a tough game yesterday just shows you what these guys are all about.”
“We just keep the same attitude,” added outfielder Ramón Laureano. “Everybody stays hungry. We just keep battling and preparing for the next day.”
The A's finished a stretch of 20 games in 20 days Wednesday with a 12-8 record. That's even more impressive when you consider 13 of the 20 games, including the last 10, came against the Astros, Yankees, and Mariners.
“Grinding through the 20 days ... in the middle of August, against the teams we were matched up against, pretty impressive,” Melvin said. “I told them that after the game. They play at the same pace every day. It doesn't make any difference to them who they're playing. They're going out there to win a ballgame. It's impressive to watch.”
Oakland Athletics
“These guys play hard,” added starting pitcher Mike Fiers, who improved to 4-0 with a 2.94 ERA since joining the A's. “I love playing for this team. They back me up no matter what.”
Perhaps the team's youth and inexperience is actually a positive. They play a fearless brand of baseball, and it shows on the field.
Laureano probably summed it up best: “I'm just glad I'm here. I'm just another guy trying to get a ring on his finger.”
The way they've been playing, no one should count them out.