Elephant Rumblings: Wang gets first win; Hundley’s recovery ahead of schedule

A’s Coverage:

• Slusser: Marcus Semien bangs two HRs, including slam, as A’s beat Twins...
• Gallegos: Semien puts on 4th of July display with slam...
• Rubin: Wei-Chung Wang gives the A’s exactly what they need and gets rewarded with a time-honored baseball tradition... ($)
• Slusser: A’s catcher Nick Hundley makes rapid progress after back injury, knee surgery...
• Slusser: A’s Chad Pinder available after turning ankle...

Best of AN:

• Urquhart: Game #89 — A’s Celebrate the 4th With a Series Win...
• Nico: Chris Herrmann Demonstrates What A’s Hitters Need To Embrace...

MLB News:

• Olney: Mets unsure of trade deadline approach...
• Divish: Mariners shut down outfielder Mitch Haniger (groin)
• Toribio: Rays place All-Star second baseman Brandon Lowe on IL with shin bruise...
• Lin: Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero (quad) out until at least September...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Todd: Remembering The A’s-Cubs 2014 July 4th Special...
• Rosecrans: Joey Votto — Here’s what the deal is with my practice swing... ($)
• Ardaya: Tyler Skaggs will be remembered as the spark among friends at ‘The Dungeon’... ($)

Today in Baseball History:

• 1987 — A’s first baseman Mark McGwire becomes the first rookie to hit 30 homers before the All-Star Game as Oakland defeats the Red Sox, 6 - 2.
• 1993 — Oakland OF Rickey Henderson leads off both games of the A’s doubleheader against the Indians with home runs. It is the first time this has happened since 1913, when Harry Hooper performed the feat for the Boston Red Sox. The Athletics win the 1st game, 6 - 5, but the Indians come back to take the nightcap, 6 - 2.

Best of Twitter:

• Sounds about right...

• It’s hard not to root for Hunter Pence...

• This is some really great work...