Khris Davis has hit 6 homers in the last 4 games

When Khris Davis gets hot, watch out. He has a legitimate claim as the top home run hitter in MLB, and he tends to hit them in bunches. That’s been on display this week.

Khrush has launched six homers in his last four games. In all of Oakland A’s history, only Mark McGwire ever did that back in 1987, according to A’s info manager Mike Selleck. And he’s not just compiling stats, either. Most of these dingers were meaningful, including two outright game-winners.

The latest tater won the game on Wednesday, on the road against the Rangers. The A’s were trailing 5-4 with two outs in the 9th, down to their last strike, and he came through at the last moment with a two-run shot. Of course, the score was only that close because of the other homer he’d hit a couple innings prior. The previous night he’d also decided the game, hitting one in the 10th to break the tie and complete a historic comeback. He was clutch on Sunday as well, as his long ball in the 8th tied up a game that the Giants led late.

For the season, Khrush is now up to 27 dingers, fourth in MLB. He broke 40 each of the last two years, the first time any Oakland player has done that, and he’s on the same pace per plate appearance this season. Since coming to town in 2016, he’s still hit more than any other player in the sport. Here’s the updated list:

1. Khris Davis, 112
2. Giancarlo Stanton, 109
3. Nelson Cruz, 104
4. Edwin Encarnacion, 103
5. Nolan Arenado, 103

He has a particular ownership of the Rangers. He’s gone deep in his last six games against them, and his total of seven off Texas pitching this year is more than twice any other opponent. For his career against them he’s slugging .792 with a dinger every 8.3 plate appearances, for a total of 25 (Mariners are next with 17). At Globe Life Park in Arlington, he’s got 15 in 26 games, nearly twice any other road venue.

Let’s turn to video! Here’s a stroll through Khrush’s current power surge. Pay particular attention to all the different directions these hits go. The first dinger came Sunday against Johnny Cueto and the Giants, to open the day’s scoring.

He did it again later on Sunday, opposite-field off Mark Melancon. The Giants had taken a 5-4 lead in the 8th on an Andrew McCutchen homer, but Khrush wasn’t to be outdone. This set up an eventual Oakland win in extras.

On Monday the A’s dropped 15 runs on the Rangers. They already had the game in hand when Khrush went deep off lefty Alex Claudio, making this the only one that didn’t mean much, but it counts nonetheless.

On Monday, the A’s had fought back from an eight-run deficit to tie the game and go to extras. With the score knotted 10-10 in the 10th, Khrush went yard against Austin Bibens-Dirkx to complete the comeback.

On Wednesday, the A’s once again trailed late. The Rangers led 5-1, but in the 7th Khrush delivered a three-run jack off Cody Gearrin to make it close.

That 5-4 score held until the 9th. With two outs, and two strikes in the count, Khrush once again came through. He went opposite-field to the second deck off a 98 mph fastball by Jose Leclerc, turning a near-loss into another stunning victory.

It was the second day in a row the A’s had come back late and sealed it with a Khrush dinger. At this point it’s just silly.

All told, of these six long balls, he pulled two, hit one to straightaway center, and knocked three to right. His spray chart for the season shows his ability to hit it out in any direction.

via FanGraphs

Maybe it’s time for opponents to begin walking him in crucial situations, but I’m not complaining if they don’t. More fireworks for us.

Salute!