OAKLAND -- Nothing about Jake Bauers screams “great hitter.” His stats across the board over a five-season career with five teams are below average. But another number paints a brighter picture for 2024.

The Brewers, now 21 games above .500 (75-54), are 28 over (44-16) in the 60 games Bauers has started.

Bauers had a big hand in boosting those numbers in Saturday’s 9-5 victory against the A’s. His two-run homer in the fifth against starter Joe Boyle extended a two-run Milwaukee lead to 5-1. That proved important when Oakland scored three runs to whittle the advantage.

Garrett Mitchell had two hits, including a double in the eighth that landed just fair and allowed Bauers to score his third run of the game for insurance before the Brewers put it away with a three-run ninth.

Willy Adames also had two hits, including a single that began a three-run second that was aided significantly by three walks, including Jackson Chourio with the bases loaded. Milwaukee batted around and scored the other two runs on weakly hit but well-placed balls in the infield from Mitchell and Blake Perkins.

Colin Rea (12-4) pitched into the seventh for Milwaukee and allowed four runs, three on a pair of homers, including Brent Rooker’s 30th of the season. Rea has allowed 22 homers this year.

The Brewers have taken the first two games of the series and will attempt to sweep Sunday behind former A’s ace Frankie Montas.