Elephant Rumblings: A’s snap skid; Buchter optioned

A’s Coverage:

• Shea: A’s beat Rangers 6-1 courtesy of Chris Bassitt, Stephen Piscotty...
• Gallegos: Bassitt’s ‘19 debut was exactly what A’s needed...
• Shea: A’s reliever Lou Trivino unavailable with thumb injury...
• Gallegos: Buchter optioned, expected to return later in ‘19...
• Matier: Oakland A’s have money, Alameda County willing to sell — it’s a deal for Coliseum...
• Adler: Week’s top play must be seen to be believed...
• Lockard: A’s minor-league notebook — Daniel Mengden among those in Triple A who could help the A’s... ($)

Best of AN:

• Raun-Linde: Game #25 — A’s Bats and Defense Defeat the Rangers...
• Baker-Gillman: Series #9 — Athletics vs Rangers: Hot vs Not...
• Iversen: Barry Zito talks about life after baseball, saving energy...
• Hall: Oakland A’s recall Ryan Dull, option Ryan Buchter to Triple-A...
• Moriarty: A’s Farm Report — Early Season’s Hottest Pitchers...

MLB News:

• Martino: Brewers interested in Gio Gonzalez, will be competition for Mets...
• Bradford: Red Sox righty Nathan Eovaldi to miss 4-6 weeks after elbow surgery...
• Kubatko: Orioles deciding between Adley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr. with first overall pick...
• Topkin: Austin Meadows to miss “a few weeks” for Rays with thumb injury...
• Keri: The 30 — Week four brings flips, flops, long-gone fastballs and a Dodgers resurgence... ($)

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Hayes: Who would win a 30-man Royal Rumble of MLB managers? Let’s investigate... ($)
• Sawchik: How The Rays Are Surprising Baseball Again...
• J. Stark: The no-hitter is dying. Does that matter? ($)
• A. Stark: (Re)introducing a New Stat — Runs Matted In...
• Edwards: What Clayton Kershaw Still Has...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1939 - Rookie Ted Williams goes 4 for 5, including his first major-league home run, but the Boston Red Sox lose to the Philadelphia Athletics, 12 - 8, at Fenway Park.
• 1999 - Fernando Tatis of the St. Louis Cardinals becomes the first player in major league history to hit two grand slams in one inning. Tatis connects both times in the 11-run 3rd inning against pitcher Chan Ho Park to lead the Cardinals to a 12 - 5 rout of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He simultaneously sets a record with eight RBI in one inning. Park becomes the first pitcher in the 20th century, and only the second ever, to surrender two slams in a single frame, joining Bill Phillips of the 1890 Pittsburgh Alleghenys.

Best of Twitter:

• This is a huge week for the A’s new ballpark, and it’s off to a great start...

• Matt Chapman continues to be fantastic...

• Last night’s Angels-Yankees game got weird...