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Stephen Piscotty was perfectly fine with Andy Green’s decision to walk Matt Olson to load the bases ahead of him with no outs in the eighth inning.

He liked Green’s move even more after hitting a go-ahead double to keep the plucky Athletics rolling along.

Piscotty doubled three times and had three RBIs [url=http://www.coltscheapshop.com/cheap-authentic-t.j.-green-jersey]T.J. Green Jersey[/url] , helping Oakland beat San Diego 4-2 on Wednesday.

”We know we have a really good offense and if we keep that game close anything can happen in any inning,” Piscotty said. ”We’ve been doing it all year. It’s a great testament to this team, how well we battle late.”

Khris Davis added an RBI single for the A’s, who have won 14 of 17 to move a season-high nine games over .500.

”We have a young group that’s played together that expects to win,” manager Bob Melvin said. ”There’s a lot more to go before we consider it special, but here recently we’ve been playing really well.”

Piscotty doubled in Olson in the second, and then had another two-base hit in the sixth. He snapped a 2-all tie in the eighth with a two-run double off Craig Stammen.

Green opted to pitch to Piscotty in the eighth. Jed Lowrie drew a leadoff walk off Jose Castillo (1-2) and Davis doubled before Olson was walked.

Chapman said the intentional walk was the smart play, even though it backfired on the Padres.

”Olson’s a power guy and he’s a left-hander and there’s a base open and it’s a tie ballgame. It made a lot of sense,” Piscotty said. ”I was ready as soon as guys were on second and third.”

Lou Trivino (7-1) retired two batters for the win. Blake Treinen pitched the ninth for his 22nd save.

Christian Villanueva hit his 17th home run for San Diego. The Padres lost all four games against the A’s this season.

”We’re not getting hits with runners in scoring position,” said Green, who is in his third year managing the Padres. ”Sometimes the best thing you can do is relax [url=http://www.officialducks.com/authentic-adidas-ryan-miller-jersey]Ryan Miller Jersey[/url] , go play baseball and enjoy what you’re doing and then the hits start coming.”

OH SO SMOOTH

Oakland third baseman Matt Chapman was hitless in three at-bats, but helped with a pair of sparkling defensive plays. The A’s rookie made a diving stop on A.J. Ellis‘ grounder in the fourth, and then made a spinning backhand grab of Hunter Renfroe’s sharp grounder down the third-base line to begin a 5-4-3 double play in the sixth.

”You look at the box score and it shows oh-for, but for us he drove in like three runs,” Melvin said. ”There’s two plays there that are going to lead to some runs probably for sure.”

STRONG STARTS, NO DECISIONS

Neither starting pitcher figured in the decision.

San Diego’s Luis Perdomo, who was called up from the minors before the game, allowed two runs over 5 2/3 innings in his first start since April 15.

Oakland’s Sean Manaea gave up two runs in seven innings.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: Closer Brad Hand rejoined the team after missing Tuesday’s game for personal reasons.

Athletics: A day after getting spiked on the side of his leg while covering first base, Chris Bassitt was still noticeably sore, but isn’t expected to miss his turn in the rotation. … RHP Daniel Mengden (sprained right foot) will make a rehab start with Triple-A Nashville on Friday.

UP NEXT

Padres: LHP Eric Lauer (3-5, 5.08 ERA) faces the Diamondbacks for the first time in his career Thursday in the opener of a four-game series in Arizona. Lauer had a 2.76 ERA in six June starts.

Athletics: RHP Paul Blackburn (2-2 [url=http://www.jetsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-sam-darnold-jersey]Authentic Sam Darnold Jersey[/url] , 6.46) pitches Friday in Cleveland, seeking a second consecutive win over the Indians.

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Tyler Mahle is pitching well in June. Then again, most everyone is pitching well against the Kansas City Royals this month.

Mahle allowed three hits while working into the seventh, Adam Duvall hit a ninth-inning grand slam and the Cincinnati Reds beat the skidding Royals 7-0 on Wednesday night.

Mahle (5-6) allowed only one runner to touch second base in 6 1/3 innings, matching his career longest start. He is 2-0 in June, allowing two earned runs and 14 hits in 16 1/3 innings.

”I was able to make big pitches, get weak contact and guys were able to make plays behind me, and I was able to hold them off long enough for us to score some runs,” Mahle said.

The Royals have lost nine of 10 and have dropped 23 of 33 home games. They have scored 11 runs in their last eight games and 23 in 12 June games. They have scored one run in the past 25 innings.

”We’ve got to be better than that,” losing pitcher Jason Hammel said. ”This losing is getting old.”

Kansas City is hitting .147 this month with runners in scoring position, including 1 for 25 in the past six games.

Duvall greeted rookie reliever Jason Adam with his second grand slam in two weeks [url=http://www.authenticsbuffalobills.com/cheap-josh-allen-jersey]Josh Allen Jersey Elite[/url] , driving a 2-2 pitch over the left-center wall.

”He threw me a couple of curveballs earlier in that at-bat, but I knew he liked his heater,” Duvall said. ”That’s what I was looking for there. It’s a good feeling to come in here and win two.”

Hammel (2-7) allowed three runs on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings. The Royals committed three errors, including two in the seventh helping the Reds score two runs.

”I know guys are not trying to kick the ball, not try to misplay it, but at this level those things affect the outcome,” Hammel said. ”That’s the game in a nutshell.”

Alex Gordon, a five-time American League Gold Glove winner, made two defensive gems in the sixth inning. Curt Casali singled off the left-field bullpen fence and tried to stretch it into a double. Gordon threw him out from the warning track for his fifth outfield assist this season and the 85th of his career.

Two pitches later, Gordon made a diving head-first catch of Billy Hamilton’s liner to rob him of a hit.

”The first thing that went through my mind, is no wonder he’s a gold [url=http://www.billsauthorizedshops.com/authentic-josh-allen-jersey]Authentic Josh Allen Jersey[/url] , platinum glove winner,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. ”He’s just so fantastic out there.”

Salvador Perez and Hunter Dozier grounded into double plays to end the first two Royals innings.

Mahle retired 12 of the next 13 batters he faced after Gordon walked in the second inning.

The Royals didn’t have a runner touch second base until Whit Merrifield doubled with two out in the sixth.

STREAKING REDS

Scooter Gennett had two singles, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. … Jose Peraza has reached base in 15 consecutive games. … Reliever Jared Hughes, who pitched a scoreless inning, has not allowed a run in 15 straight appearances.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 1B Lucas Duda (right foot plantar fasciitis) is doing on-the-field activity. Yost said he is hopeful Duda will go out on a minor league rehab assignment this weekend.

UP NEXT

Reds: They are off Thursday before RHP Matt Harvey will start Friday in Pittsburgh.

Royals: After an off-day Thursday, the Royals will open a three-game home series Friday with the Houston Astros. RHP Jakob Junis will be the KC starter for the opener.
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