Elephant Rumblings: A’s make home run history to end first half

MLB news roundup

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

You may recall that last week, A’s outfielder Lawrence Butler hit the longest home run by an Athletic in 2024 so far with a 457-foot shot at Fenway. Butler has been hitting his stride with a hot bat lately: he’s hit five home runs in the past week, including three in yesterday’s high-flying series finale against the Phillies.

Designated hitter Brent Rooker has also been swinging a hot bat as he continues to drive home runs—along with the notion that he was unfairly snubbed in not being named an All-Star this year.

Rooker had a majestic two-run blast of his own in the fourth inning of yesterday’s game. It didn’t quite go the distance that Law’s did against the Sox, but it was a display of jaw-dropping power nonetheless. Rooker’s 20th home run of the season carried 450 feet and came down well beyond the center field wall as home run number 14,000 in A’s franchise history.

Rooker came back for an encore in the sixth, hitting another two-run bomb of remarkably similar trajectory that carried 452 feet and put the A’s up 6-1.

A’s broadcaster Jenny Cavnar cleverly noted that Brent was having a “900 foot day at the office.” In a single game, Rooker had just hit two of the 20 longest home runs at Citizens Ban Park in the Statcast era.

Rooker set the tone for an historic offensive day for the A’s. He and first baseman Seth Brown homered twice, while Butler refused to be overshadowed with his own trio of long balls and second baseman Zack Gelof hit a stat-padding grand slam in garbage time as the A’s coasted to a huge win and clinched the series against a championship contender.

The A’s wound up tying their franchise record of eight home runs in a single game.

I’d say our Athletics have earned their All-Star break.

Have a fantastic week, AN.

A’s Coverage:

• Athletics select 1B Nick Kurtz with the 4th overall pick in 2024 MLB Draft
• Athletics select 3B Tommy White with the 40th overall pick in 2024 MLB Draft
• Athletics select LHP Gage Jump with the 73rd overall pick in 2024 MLB Draft
• Butler, Rooker lead A’s to series win over Phillies
• Luis Morales strikes out two in Futures Game
• A’s roster moves: Medina to IL, Otañez recalled
• Vince Cotroneo classy over his exit from A’s radio booth after contract wasn’t renewed ($)
• Brent Rooker, Mason Miller among the A’s few first-half bright spots ($)

MLB News & Interest:

• 2024 MLB Draft live updates, tracker, results ($)
• Guardians Select Travis Bazzana With First Pick Of 2024 Draft
• Among the trailblazers who integrated MLB, there’s only one left: Ozzie Virgil ($)
• 2024 Futures Game: The performances that stood out — both good and bad ($)
• Phillies tie National League record with 8 All-Stars ($)
• Carlos Correa Dealing With Plantar Fasciitis, Will Skip All-Star Game
• Dodgers Notes: Kershaw, Heyward, Betts
• Astros Notes: Garcia, Verlander, Tucker
• Brewers Designate Dallas Keuchel For Assignment
• Rockies Activate German Marquez From 60-Day IL
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

P.S.: The A’s also own this category.

Last Dive Bar spreading love for Vince.

Phanatic tries to steal Dallas’s face