Elephant Rumblings: A’s hope to spark offense with promotion of Bolt

A’s Coverage:

• Slusser: A’s struggles continue in 7-3 loss at Boston, still winless on trip...
• Gallegos: Both offense, defense are what’s ailing A’s...
• McWilliams: Sloppy defense and offense, the A’s struggles continued in Boston but can change with reinforcements... ($)
• Slusser: ‘I don’t think I can hit’ — A’s pitchers brace for their turns at the plate...
• Gallegos: Canha expected back soon after favorable MRI...

Best of AN:

• Doan: Game #33 — A’s Bats Whiff Again, Red Sox Win, 7-3...

MLB News:

• ESPN: Indians RHP Corey Kluber hit by liner, fractures forearm...
• McCauley: Giants add catcher Stephen Vogt to major league roster...
• Rieber: Mets place righty Jeurys Familia on IL with shoulder injury...
• Moura: Dodgers outfielder A.J. Pollock do undergo elbow surgery...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Carig: ‘Baseball was my goal’ — Why ‘Jeopardy!’ champion James Holzhauer first saw himself in a MLB front office... ($)
• Sarris: Is it the ball that’s different this season … or the hitters? ($)
• Edwards: How Hitters Are Fighting Back Against Rising Strikeouts...
• Fink: Just How Hot Has Cody Bellinger Been?
• Stark: Ten things we learned in April... ($)

Today in Baseball History:

• 1909 — Honus Wagner steals his way around the bases in the 1st inning of a game against the Cubs. It is the fourth time he steals second base, third and home in the same inning, a National League record. The record holder in the American League is Ty Cobb, who will pull the trick four times between 1909 and 1924. No player in major league history has ever accomplished this feat in each league, and only two more have accomplished the feat twice during their careers: Max Carey (NL) and Jackie Tavener (AL).
• 1972 — The long holdout of Oakland Athletics All-Star pitcher Vida Blue comes to an end. Blue, who won both the American League MVP and Cy Young awards in 1971, agrees to a contract for $63,000, after balking at owner Charlie Finley’s previous offers. Perhaps affected by the long layoff, Blue will win only six games this year but will pitch well in the postseason.

Best of Twitter:

• Not official yet, but it looks like one of Oakland’s breakout prospects is getting his chance...

• You have to love seeing A’s representation in the entertainment industry...

• Love this from Jesse Winker...