Butler makes A's history with 9-game extra-base-hit streak
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OAKLAND – The long 123-year history of the A’s franchise has no shortage of legendary hitters who have left their mark. The list of Hall of Fame-level hitters is endless, from Philadelphia greats Jimmie Foxx and Al Simmons to Oakland icons such as Reggie Jackson and Rickey Henderson.
None of those illustrious names have accomplished what Lawrence Butler just did.
Leading off the bottom of the first inning in Wednesday’s 16-3 loss to the Mariners, Butler wasted no time roping a first-pitch fastball from George Kirby into left field and gliding into second base. The double extended his career-best hitting streak to 14 games and extra-base-hit streak to nine games, the latter of which is the longest such streak in A’s history.
Butler surpassed multiple generations of A’s royalty in Ben Grieve (2000), Dick Williams (1960), Ferris Fain (1951) and Dick Siebert (1939), who all previously shared the record extra-base hit streak record at eight games. He is also the only player in MLB this season with an extra-base-hit streak of at least nine games.
“That’s pretty cool to break one of the organizational records,” Butler said. “It means a lot, especially because I was drafted by this [organization]. To be able to just come up here and day by day put in the work, it means a lot.”
The rise of Butler – who earned American League Player of the Week for the second time this season after a monster showing last week – as a young star in the game continues to build in what is his first full season as a big leaguer. Before the game, several of Butler’s teammates were seen wearing a custom-made “Law” T-shirt that featured multiple caricatures of Butler with the words ‘Straight from Zone 4’, which is an homage to the area in Atlanta where he grew up and proudly represents by wearing the jersey No. 4.
Butler has bashed 19 home runs over his past 54 games, which ranks second only to Aaron Judge over that span and equates to 57 home runs over a full 162-game season. It’s an incredible surge over the past two months that has even prompted manager Mark Kotsay to give up trying to project what type of player Butler could eventually develop into.
“If there’s consistency throughout the season, he’s putting up numbers that you would think a ceiling could be 40 home runs,” Kotsay said. “And I don’t even want to cap it there because he’s so young and the tools and the talent are coming together.”
Butler and teammate Brent Rooker have formed one of the more formidable one-two punches in baseball. Since July 1, Butler and Rooker have combined for 37 home runs and 93 RBIs while primarily hitting first and second in the A’s batting order.
On Wednesday, Butler’s leadoff double was immediately followed by an RBI single from Rooker, who drove in his 94th run of the season.
“He puts pressure on me,” Butler said of Rooker. “I feel like if I don’t get on, he doesn’t get on. I feel like I have to get on and set the tone for him. If I get on base, nine times out of 10, he’s driving me in and that’s a run for the team. I’m really just trying to get on base for him.”
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In a stretch that saw the A’s enter the night holding the fifth-best record (25-17) in the Majors since July 14, blowout losses have been few and far in between. Wednesday was a competitive game until the seventh inning, when A’s reliever Janson Junk inherited a 5-2 deficit and proceeded to get tagged for seven runs on six hits and two walks without recording a single out in what was his first appearance with his new club.
“You just flush this game,” Kotsay said. “That seventh inning got away from us. I can’t remember a game that we’ve played this lopsided in a while, which is a good sign. At the same point, it doesn’t feel good to drop a game like that. We have a chance to win the series, and that’s the focus for [Thursday].”