Elephant Rumblings: A’s win four straight series

MLB news roundup

Happy Monday, Athletics Nation!

When the A’s took a 6-0 lead in the third inning of yesterday’s season finale in Anaheim, one had to like the team’s chances of finally completing a sweep in July—and a four-gamer, at that. Alas, the Angels came back with eight unanswered runs to foil a third straight sweep opportunity for the Athletics.

Of course, the wider context of those finale losses is that the A’s have won all three series and put up a 7-3 record since the All-Star break.

Oakland also won a series at Citizens Bank Park right before the break that culminated in an 18-3 pounding of the Phillies, who own the best record in MLB. That makes four straight series wins that have contributed to the A’s first winning month in two years.

The trade deadline is tomorrow, and the A’s have been looking like sellers all year. But Mason Miller, who the A’s have insisted would carry a prohibitive price tag anyway, seems less likely to move after suffering a broken pinky, and now I hear tell that the A’s are even reluctant to move Brent Rooker.

At 44-64, the A’s would have to play absurdly well in August and September to surge into Wild Card contention, but perhaps this recent success will convince the front office to hang onto their best pieces to build a successful roster around for next year and let the team continue partying like it’s 2017.

The A’s are capping off July this week with a two-game series against the Giants at Oracle Park. To win the series, it must be swept. Let’s go, Oakland!

A’s Coverage:

• Angels score eight unanswered in 8-6 A’s loss
• 2024 A’s Trying To “Party Like It’s 2017”
• Rooker continues unbelievable July with strong showing vs. Angels
• A’s Reluctant to Trade Brent Rooker
• J.T. Snow acknowledges Ballers’ shortcomings: ‘They’re working on it’ ($)

MLB News & Interest:

• Yankees DFA J.D. Davis
• MLB trade deadline primer: Top storylines, rumblings, best-available players ($)
• Yankees Acquire Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• Rosenthal: The Rays are running a clinic on how to sell at the trade deadline ($)
• Marlins’ Xavier Edwards hits for second cycle in team history ($)
• Marlins To Place Josh Bell On Waivers
• Kodai Senga Likely To Miss Rest Of Regular Season Due To “High Grade” Calf Strain
• Reyes Moronta Passes Away
• Today in Baseball History

Best of X:

Roster moves.

Sweet snag in the stands.