Condensed Game: The A's scored eight runs in the fifth inning and Frankie Montas struck out nine in his start to cruise to a win in Seattle

Offense, Frankie Montas lead A's to 11-1 win | 8/3/20

He had a really good day at the plate today,” A’s starter Frankie Montas said. And he needed to have that, that was huge for him. Outfielder Stephen Piscotty said that during batting practice, Davis had told his teammates “he was going to go off — and he sure did.

Stephen Piscotty singles to left field. Khris Davis to second. Sean Murphy singles to third base.

Ramon Laureano and Chad Pinder had two-run singles during Oakland's big fifth inning, and the Athletics thumped the Seattle Mariners 11-1 on Monday night. Oakland scored eight times in the fifth inning, with all the runs coming with two outs. The A's gave starter Frankie Montas plenty of run support and finished off a successful first road trip by taking three of four from Seattle.

The 10-run bonanza included an eight-run fifth inning, Khris Davis’ first home run of the year and Ramón Laureano reaching base four times. The A’s took three of four from the Mariners, and move to 6-4. Here are some takeaways.

Ramón Laureano gives the A's a 2-1 lead in the 5th, smacking a two-run single to right field to score Kris Davis and Stephen Piscotty

Khris Davis is back in the A’s lineup against a left-hander Monday, but it sounds like for now the struggling slugger’s role will remain part-time. Davis, who is 1-for-21 on the season, has not been in the lineup the last three times the A’s have faced a right-handed starter. Manager Bob Melvin was asked before Monday’s series finale at Seattle what it will take for Davis to see more regular playing time.

Hot hands are the name of the game early in the 2020 MLB season. There’s no long-haul in the 60-game campaign, reducing the patience teams can have with slumping performers and increasing the importance of whoever is on fire right now, helping the team win 2.7 games each day. For the first-place Oakland A’s, those hot hands have come from the outfield so far, now 15% of the way through the season.

It’s just one of those things I need to be careful with. It’s like as long as I’m managing myself, I can have a normal life. The A’s have another player, reliever Jake Diekman, who is considered at-risk because of his history of ulcerative colitis, and pitching coach Scott Emerson has Type 2 diabetes and high-blood pressure, so Hendriks tries to spend as much time near them as possible when social distancing is a little more difficult.

But last year he was sunk by his . batting average, which in turn limited his OBP potential, and this time around he’s starting out with much healthier rates in those categories as more of his batted balls fall in for hits. He’s also putting far more balls into play, as those BB and K rates are each only around two-thirds of his norm.

Entering Monday's series finale against the visiting Oakland Athletics at T-Mobile Park, the Mariners' new leadoff hitter is batting . and shares the major league lead in triples (two) and runs scored (10). His on-base percentage of .

When asked about the play of shortstop J.P. Crawford, Seattle Mariners manager Scott Servais referenced another sport. "J.P. wants to be in the batter's box, he wants the ball hit to him, he wants the ball in his hands," Servais said. Crawford's glove has always been his calling card, what got him to the majors at age 22 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sheffield expected to start for Seattle against Oakland Oakland Athletics (5-4, first in the AL West) vs. Seattle Mariners (4-6, third in the AL West) Seattle; Monday, 9:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Frankie Montas (0-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 8 strikeouts) Mariners: Justus Sheffield (0-1, 12.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 2 strikeouts) LINE: Athletics favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics visit the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Sheffield expected to start for Seattle against Oakland Oakland Athletics (5-4, first in the AL West) vs. Seattle Mariners (4-6, third in the AL West) Seattle; Monday, 9:10 p.m. EDT PITCHING PROBABLES: Athletics: Frankie Montas (0-1, 3.00 ERA, 1.44 WHIP, 8 strikeouts) Mariners: Justus Sheffield (0-1, 12.00 ERA, 2.33 WHIP, 2 strikeouts) LINE: Athletics favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 8 1/2 runs BOTTOM LINE: The Oakland Athletics visit the Seattle Mariners on Monday.

Condensed Game: Ramón Laureano crushed a three-run home run and Chris Bassitt struck out seven to lead the A's over the Mariners

Ramón Laureano, Chris Bassitt lead 3-2 win | 8/2/20

Frankie Montas’ split-finger fastball isn’t a new trick, but he still prefers to delay the reveal. Two starts into this season, the A’s right-hander said he can improve how he’s deploying the pitch that was such a key for him last year. I feel like I’ve been using it too early,” Montas, who will start Monday’s series finale in Seattle, said on a video call Sunday.

Ramon Laureano broke out of a slump with a three-run homer, Chris Bassitt became the first Oakland starter to earn a victory this season and the Athletics beat the Seattle Mariners 3-2 on Sunday. Laureano's two-out home run snapped a string of 23 1/3 innings by Mariners starters without allowing an earned run and helped the A's win their second game in a row after a three-game losing streak. Bassitt (1-0) struck out seven and allowed three hits with no walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Daniel Vogelbach singles to right center field. Dylan Moore scores. Evan White called out on strikes.