Elephant Rumblings: A’s sputter in final game of road trip

A‘s Coverage:

• Slusser: A’s can’t hold onto lead at Texas, lose 8-7 to end trip...
• McWilliams: The A’s late-inning loss in Texas shouldn’t erase bigger picture — Taking care of business during brutal stretch... ($)
• Gallegos: Takeaways — Soria has an issue with lefties, A’s did well in tough stretch despite loss to Rangers...
• Slusser: A’s Jesús Luzardo, shut down with shoulder issue, feels ‘fantastic’...
• McWilliams: Jurickson Profar returns to familiar surroundings as he tries to find his way with the A’s... ($)
• Slusser: A’s Stephen Piscotty identifies flaw in swing; he’s also back batting sixth...

Best of AN:

• Baker-Gillman: Game #19 — Bad Defense, Bad Bullpen, Unfortunate Loss...
• Nico: What Are The Indicators Of Things To Come?
• Hall: Oakland A’s sign Edwin Jackson to minor league contract, again...
• DeClercq: Quick Look — Josh Phegley Can Hit!
• Hall: 96% of A’s fans are confident in the direction of the team...

MLB News:

• Rosenthal: Free agent righty Craig Kimbrel looking for contract in three year, $39-52 million range
• Fletcher: Mike Trout (groin) will join Angels in Texas; still day-to-day...
• Bell: Cleveland shortstop Francisco Lindor to begin rehab assignment...
• Ackert: Yankees righty Dellin Betances diagnosed with bone spurs in shoulder, will miss at least 6-7 weeks...
• Mitchell: Blue Jays call up Eric Sogard, demote Lourdes Gurriel Jr...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Ghiroli: Max Scherzer on free agent lies, prioritizing draft picks and “what has to happen” in baseball next... ($)
• Castrovince: They had 1 career AB, 1 career hit. Nothing else...
• Bowden: Why Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel still aren’t signed... ($)
• Jaffe: Their Powers Combined — Finding the Best of Trout and Harper...
• Stark: The Useless Info Dept., Paging Drunk Spider-Man Edition... ($)

Today in Baseball History:

• 1972 - Reggie Jackson sports a mustache as the Oakland Athletics top the Minnesota Twins, 4 - 3, in 11 innings. Jackson is the first major league player with facial hair since Frenchy Bordagaray in 1936. Jackson starts a trend with Oakland, as owner Charlie Finley eventually encourages all of his players to grow mustaches. By the end of the season, the Athletics will become known as the “Mustache Gang”.
• 2000 - In the 2,800th game of his career, Baltimore Orioles infielder Cal Ripken, Jr. lines a base hit off Minnesota Twins pitcher Hector Carrasco to become the 24th major leaguer to reach the 3,000 career hit milestone. The single also makes Ripken only the seventh player to get 3,000 hits and 400 home runs in major league history.

Best of Twitter:

• I honestly can’t wrap my mind around why this jersey was made in the first place...

• Here’s to a successful surgery and speedy recovery for Ron Darling...

• Also: who knew James Madison was on the Mets’ beat?