With a postseason berth within their sights, the Oakland Athletics are leaving

OAKLAND http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , Calif. (AP) — nothing to chance.Marcus Semien had three hits and a career-high five RBIs, Stephen Piscotty homered and drove in four runs and the Oakland Athletics hammered the Los Angeles Angels 21-3 on Thursday.The Athletics reduced their magic number for clinching a playoff berth to five. Since June 15, Oakland is a major league-best 58-25.Going into Thursday, Oakland trailed Houston by four games in the AL West, led Tampa Bay by 5 1/2 games for the second wild-card spot, and was 2 1/2 games behind the New York Yankees for the first wild card.Catcher Francisco Arcia pitched the last two innings for the Angels, who were outscored 31-2 in the last two games of the series. He also homered in the ninth, becoming the first player in Major League history to catch, pitch and hit a home run in the same game, according to the Angels.“Honestly http://www.marinersfanproshop.com/authentic-edgar-martinez-jersey , when I saw the score up there on the board, it looked like a football score,” Piscotty said. “It doesn’t happen all that often, but it’s a crazy game when you have position guys throwing.”The A’s tied an Oakland record for runs scored first set on June 18, 2000, against Kansas City.Piscotty was 2 for 3 with a three-run homer. He’s 4 for 6 with two home runs and nine RBIs in his last two games and has seven home runs and 22 RBI this month.Matt Chapman was 2 for 4 with a double and two RBIs. He leads the majors with 24 doubles since the All-Star break and has 41 on the year.Edwin Jackson (6-3) struck out seven, walked three and gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings of three-hit ball.“When you’re getting runs like that, it’s always fun,” Jackson said. “The main thing you want to do is continue to pitch and see how many shutout innings you can have to get them back in the dugout to continue to hit.”Mike Trout hit his 36th home run for the Angels. They have lost five of their last seven.Matt Shoemaker (2-2) gave up five runs in 2 2/3 innings in his third start since returning from a forearm strain.“He’s trying to get back his game at the major league level because he missed most of the season,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “There’s going to be some rough spots here or there. He’s at times pitching very well and at times he’s missing his spots, getting behind and making mistakes. But his stuff is there Felix Hernandez Jersey , no doubt.”Oakland’s Nick Martini hit his first career home run, a two-run shot off Arcia.The A’s evened their season series with the Angels at 8-8. Oakland will look for its winning season against the Angels since 2013 when it concludes its regular season with a three-game series in Los Angeles later this month.Oakland was 12 for 17 with runners in scoring position.UNBEATEN RUNThe A’s are unbeaten in 14 straight home series (12-0-2), the longest such streak in franchise history since the 1931 Philadelphia A’s went 17-0-2 through their first 19 home series.TRAINER’S ROOMRookie 2B/utilityman David Fletcher (strained left hamstring) was held out of the starting lineup for a third straight game.Athletics: Early reports on LHP Sean Manaea’s surgery Wednesday were good, manager Bob Melvin said. Manaea had arthroscopic surgery that included posterior labral repair performed in Los Angeles by Dr. Neil ElAttrache. “In the beginning, hearing about where this thing could go, we anticipated him being out for the entire (2019) season,” Melvin said. “We’ll leave a ray of hope to potentially he could come back next year.” … RHP Trevor Cahill (upper back strain) reported no significant discomfort after throwing a 35-pitch bullpen Wednesday. Cahill could start Sunday against Minnesota.UP NEXTAngels: LHP Andrew Heaney (9-9, 3.97 ERA) will pitch Friday’s series opener in Houston against RHP Gerrit Cole (14-5, 2.88 ERA).Athletics: RHP Liam Hendricks (0-1, 5.30 ERA) will be the “opener” in Friday’s series opener against visiting Minnesota. The A’s haven’t announced who will follow him. CHICAGO — As the Chicago Cubs ready for a stretch run while protecting a slim lead in the National League Central, finding a way to protect tight leads late in ballgames will go a long way in their postseason chances.With reliever Pedro Strop out for the remainder of the regular season Hisashi Iwakuma Jersey , the Cubs not only will carry a three-game winning streak into Sunday’s series finale against the Cincinnati Reds, but will do so knowing that former closer Brandon Morrow is prepared to return after being sidelined since late July.Morrow threw a simulated game Saturday on a day when Randy Rosario and Steve Cishek became the latest relief pitchers to preserve a lead. The Cubs held off the Reds in a 1-0 victory, the third straight one-run win for Chicago.Article continues below ...As for the closer’s role, Cubs manager Joe Maddon told reporters Saturday that even though Morrow is moving closer to returning, he won’t be slotted to finish games once he’s available.“If he’s ready to go and we want to put him out there, I don’t think it’ll be the ninth inning,” Maddon said, according to MLB.com. “I want to give him a chance to break into it a little bit.”But after being sidelined for so long, Morrow told reporters he is anxious to return to the field and contribute to the Cubs’ postseason chances.“It’s not for me to see (what the role will be),” Morrow told reporters. “I will throw in whatever inning Joe puts me in. I’m comfortable pitching whenever.”Jose Quintana (13-9, 3.97 ERA) will start for Chicago in Sunday’s series finale. Quintana has not lost since Aug. 14 and has won both of his September starts.The left-hander is coming off an impressive performance in his last outing when he threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings in which he allowed three hits and struck out seven against Milwaukee. Quintana is 3-1 with a 3.71 ERA in five career starts against the Reds.Cincinnati will enter Sunday’s matchup on a three-game skid and after being shut out for the first time since Aug. 26 Ken Griffey Jersey , also by the Cubs. While the Reds’ starting rotation has been in flux, interim manager Jim Riggleman told reporters Saturday that he plans to shift reliever Michael Lorenzen into a starting role beginning Tuesday against the Brewers.In 42 relief appearances this season, Lorenzen is 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA. Lorenzen learned the news on Friday.“I’m really excited,” Lorenzen told reporters Saturday, according to MLB.com. “I’m extremely thankful for the opportunity. I’m going to try and make the most of it and continue what I’ve been doing.”Riggleman said Lorenzen has continued to lobby for taking on a starting assignment but given the success rate Lorenzen has had as a reliever, Riggleman said he would hate to lose him in that role. So as the Reds look toward next season, Lorenzen will at least get a look starting Tuesday when he will likely pitch about four innings.“It will be a very small sample, but we’ll get a little feel for it,” Riggleman said.Luis Castillo will start for the Reds on Sunday. Castillo (9-12, 4.66) has won two of his three September starts and allowed one run and four hits in 6 1/3 innings in his last outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers while striking out nine.Castillo is 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA in five career starts against the Cubs.