News » Khris Davis has become known

OAKLAND Glenn Robinson Jersey , Calif. (AP) —as Oakland’s other superstar “KD.”The Athletics slugger is having a special season right next door to where Kevin Durant led the Golden State Warriors to a second straight NBA championship two months ago.Davis is on such a home run streak, he has considered the idea he might hit 50.It’s right within reach at the pace he’s on after two straight 40-homer years in his first two seasons with the Athletics.“It’s been on my mind for a little while,” Davis said. “It’s just another number, another benchmark.”Yet he is far from concerned with his individual total — because that will mean little if he doesn’t help Oakland end a three-year postseason drought following last-place finishes in the AL West each of the past three years.Davis leads the majors with 39 home runs and ranks second in RBIs with 103 behind Boston’s J.D. Martinez.Davis is a big reason the A’s are on such a remarkable roll in the second half: Oakland is 17-1-2 in its past 20 series dating to June 15 and 1 1/2 games back of the first-place Astros as the clubs begin a three-game series at defending World Series champion Houston on Monday night.“He just wants to play baseball,” A’s pitcher Edwin Jackson said. “You have a couple of those dudes sometimes that just want to go out, don’t really like the attention, but they get it because it comes with the job, but if they can go out and play and produce and do well without the attention I’m sure they would prefer it.“It’s like a quiet storm, quiet storm. Oh, man http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-manny-pina-jersey , it’s fun watching him doing what he does — it’s pretty fun watching him put it all together, too. He’s a great person, a great teammate. I couldn’t be more happy for him, I wouldn’t wish it on a better person.”What has been most impressive to many around him is how Davis continues to make himself better each year, working the count and driving in runs other ways.As his home runs and RBIs mount, Davis is even getting MVP support from the A’s, even though he’s batting just .255 and primarily plays designated hitter.“It’s special. Just appreciative and I try not to make it a big deal,” Davis said.His unassuming, quiet demeanor reflects to teammates how focused he is on being the best. Davis’ recent gesture to a boy in remission from a rare cancer told them so much about his caring nature, too. On Aug. 20 Cecil Cooper Jersey , Davis had 10-year-old Anthony Slocumb sign his jersey , then hit a towering home run that hit the window high above the elevated seats in left-center that night against the Texas Rangers.“That’s who he is,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s beloved by everybody in this clubhouse from the clubhouse kids to trainers, I mean there isn’t a group here that he’s (not) endeared to. He doesn’t want to it in the spotlight, he just wants to be one of the guys.”Davis takes more pride in being that positive example for teammates than he does in clearing the fences — though that helps his credibility.“Just being a good teammate, and if things aren’t going my way I’m still pulling for everybody,” Davis said. “I just want the team to win all around. It’s been a trait since I was young. That’s the reason why we play is to win the ballgame, not necessarily to do good for ourselves but for the team.Melvin has credited Davis for becoming a more all-around hitter, not just clobbering home runs.Davis received a $10.5 million, one-year contract during the offseason http://www.brewersfanproshop.com/authentic-hernan-perez-jersey , more than doubling his salary after he beat the team in arbitration the previous winter.He hit a career-best 43 home runs in 2017, connecting on the season’s final day to surpass the season high he set the previous year for Oakland. The 30-year-old Davis needs one more homer to join Jimmie Foxx from 1932-34 as the only players in Athletics history with three straight 40-homer seasons.Davis’ 85 homers the past two seasons were second in the majors only to Giancarlo Stanton’s 86.His teammates can’t always believe what they’re seeing from Davis, which is why they’re pushing for his inclusion in MVP talks.“He’s a joke. He hits balls that left-handed pull hitters don’t hit to right field,” pitcher Brett Anderson said. “The ball comes off his bat different than pretty much everyone I’ve ever seen. He should definitely be in the equation because it’s fun to watch him on a daily basis. I’m glad I’m on this side and not the other side.” ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Blake Snell had his best fastball and that was more than enough against baseball’s best team.The All-Star lefty pitched two-hit ball over six innings and the Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth straight game Sunday, beating Boston 9-1 to hand the major league-leading Red Sox their first sweep of the season.“There was a lot of energy today,” Boston manager Alex Cora said, “but the guy on the mound sucked it up.”Snell (16-5) allowed one run and struck out eight. He has given up no more than one earned run in 14 consecutive starts at home, and he has a 1.08 ERA in four outings against the Red Sox this year.“I almost have to tell myself to wake up over there. He’s so good I feel like I don’t even have to do much,” Rays third baseman Matt Duffy said. “I’m just kind of chillin’ over there. I’ve got a really good seat for the game. When he pitches I go Domingo Santana Jersey , ‘OK, wake up, the ball might come your way — if they make contact with it.'”Boston (90-42) has lost six of eight and was outscored 24-5 in the three-game set.Duffy had three hits and drove in two runs for the surprising Rays, who completed their first undefeated homestand of more than one series. They won all seven games against the Royals and Red Sox, and are nine games above .500 (70-61) for the first time since June 2015.“For us to do it against Kansas City and then Boston, the best team in the league right now, to be able to do that to them says a lot about our team,” Snell said. “I’m excited to be in this clubhouse with these guys.”Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi, acquired from the Rays in a July 25 trade, gave up hits to the first three batters he faced and fell behind 2-0.Kevin Kiermaier’s two-run triple was the fourth hit off Eovaldi in a three-run third that left Tampa Bay with a 5-0 lead.“They’re a very streaky team Eric Sogard Jersey ,” Eovaldi said. “They’ve had their ups and downs. Right now they’re swinging the bats as well as anybody. The pitching has been pretty good all year.”Eovaldi (5-6) dropped to 2-2 with Boston. He gave up six runs — five earned — and eight hits in four innings while striking out five. In his last four starts, the right-hander has allowed 35 hits in 17 innings.TWO-DAY BREAKCora said he never reconsidered his plan to give slugger J.D. Martinez the day off before Monday’s scheduled open date. “We haven’t done two days off with him the whole season,” Cora said. “With him it’s about the mechanics — he’s always afraid that he’s going lose it. But I think at this stage, two days will benefit him.”TRAINER’S ROOMRed Sox: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (right ankle sprain) will attempt to pitch six innings in a rehab start Monday. … RHP Steven Wright (left knee inflammation) will throw to catcher Christian Vazquez (broken finger) at Triple-A Pawtucket on Tuesday.Rays: Manager Kevin Cash said OF Mallex Smith (viral infection) is “doing considerably better” and was expected to be released from the hospital Sunday. Cash has no timetable but didn’t rule out Smith, who was hospitalized Friday, from playing again early next month.UP NEXTRed Sox: RHP Brian Johnson will pitch Tuesday night in the first of two home games against the Miami Marlins.Rays: After their first day off in two weeks, the Rays open a two-game series in Atlanta on Tuesday night. Ryne Stanek will start.