Lawrence Butler slugs two-run homer in loss to Rays

Bolte went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts out of the leadoff spot against Red Sox southpaw Payton Tolle. In his defense, Tolle finished with 14 strikeouts in a dominant performance. He’ll continue to get opportunities against left-handers, which is the case in this one with Jake Bennett taking the ball for Boston, with Lawrence Butler handling the top spot against right-handers.

Even against lefties, like today, Butler has been a fixture in the A’s lineup of late. Over his last 15 games, his slashing .295/.373/.568 with two home runs, nine runs scored, seven RBI and one steal. He may finally be getting healthy.

Butler’s home run was his seventh of the year. He hit a solo shot off Rhett Lowder in the first inning. Butler is now 8-for-27 (.296) with two home runs, six runs scored and four RBI in his last seven games.

Butler got lucky in the bottom of the ninth, when he thought his opposite-field double was a walkoff homer off Aroldis Chapman and he waited several seconds to start running. Fortunately for him, the ball bounced far enough away after hitting the wall that he made it to second anyway. It still was a nice showing offensively. His homer off Patrick Sandoval in the fifth was his first since June 19, and he had two extra-base hits for the first time in a game this season. He’s batting .204/.306/.320 in 311 plate appearances, but his seven-year, $65.5 million contract ensures that the A’s won’t give up on him.

Thomas was diagnosed with a left wrist contusion after being hit by a pitch during Monday’s series opener against Arizona. He’s day-to-day for now. It’ll be Lawrence Butler in right field in his absence.

Lawrence Butler took over for Thomas in right field to open the fourth inning after he was hit by a pitch on the left hand area earlier in the contest. He’ll head for X-rays to determine whether he suffered any fractures.

Wilson gets a look atop the Athletics’ lineup with Nick Kurtz on the injured list against lefty opener Bryan Hudson after Lawrence Butler took at turn during Friday’s series opener. The 24-year-old contact-oriented shortstop should continue to get opportunities against lefties while Kurtz is on the shelf. He’s hit .286 (4-for-14) in four games since returning from the injured list earlier this week.

Butler was on the wrong side of what was the game’s biggest play through six; with the bases loaded and two outs, he came up a little short on a diving attempt at Jung Hoo Lee’s liner to right and had the ball get by him for a three-run triple. The Giants were up 6-2 at that point, but the A’s came back with two in the seventh. In the eighth, Butler doubled to the wall in center. It looked like Jonah Cox had it all of the way, but he missed it at the end. Butler then came around to score on a Jeff McNeil single. In the ninth, Butler had the third of four singles off Caleb Kilian, giving the A’s a 7-6 lead. Butler is batting .342 with two homers, four doubles and two steals in his last 13 games, raising his OPS from .489 to .585. He needs to stay hot to ensure that he keeps starting against righties after Brent Rooker returns, but things are finally looking up.

Butler’s day was a kind — if frustrating — reminder of why so many were so high on his fantasy potential not that long ago. Even with his fifth homer of the season and fifth steal of the campaign, he’s still slashing an ugly .193/.274/.305 on the season. It’s too early to just completely give up on Butler someday reaching his fantasy potential considering he’s still just 25, but obviously you cannot rely on seeing many more performances like this going forward.

Butler had started each of the team’s previous four games, but he went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts in a tough loss against the Pirates on Wednesday. Carlos Cortes will cover right field in his place while Jonah Heim will get a rare start as the designated hitter and bat sixth for the A’s on Thursday evening.