Elephant Rumblings: A’s lefty A.J. Puk throws second scoreless inning in three days for Las Vegas

A’s Coverage:

• Slusser: Cubs pound A’s; Matt Chapman’s slump deepens...
• Gallegos: Homer’s rough start a tale of 2 1st-pitch heaters...
• Lockard: First stop in Chicago leaves a sour taste for the A’s, who are still in search of a consistent bullpen... ($)
• Slusser: Semien, Bassitt, Phegley show A’s came out ahead in 2014 Chicago deals...
• Gallegos: Garneau catching on quickly as fill in for A’s...

Best of AN:

• CatfishBunter: Game #116 — Cubs slam Homer in 10-1 rout at Wrigley...

MLB News:

• Divish: Mariners 1B Ryon Healy undergoes hip surgery, out four-to-six months...
• Mahoney: Longtime Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia underwent a ‘joint preservation procedure’ on his knee...
• Heyman: Cubs sign former A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy...
• O’Brien: Young Braves star Austin Riley out indefinitely with knee injury...
• Murray: Diamondbacks DFA veteran reliever Greg Holland...

Baseball Interest Stories:

• Lindbergh: What’s Left for Mike Trout to Conquer?
• Edwards: Mike Trout Without WAR...
• Bowden: 11 minor leaguers who are ready to help their big-league teams now... ($)
• Gammons: Matt Murton’s path shows how one trade deadline deal can change a life forever... ($)
• Gawlowski: When Every Park Is a Bandbox — How Teams Are Adapting to the New Ball...
• Baccellieri: Mud Maker — The Man Behind MLB’s Essential Secret Sauce...

Today in Baseball History:

• 1916 — The Athletics set an American League record with their 19th loss in a row on the road (20th overall)‚ a 9 - 0 yawner to the Tigers. The streak began on July 25th‚ making it a record for losses in 2 weeks.
• 1979 — Oakland’s Matt Keough loses to California, 8 - 1‚ running his season record to 0-14‚ and tying a dubious major league record. His 14 straight losses ties him for the 4th most in American League history.
• 2001 — With 50‚863 on hand at Oakland‚ the A’s down the Red Sox‚ 6 - 1, behind the pitching of Tim Hudson. Carl Everett’s home run accounts for the only BoSox score‚ while Jason Giambi homers for Oakland. Johnny Damon hits a double the hard way when his drive down the RF line lands in a beer cup. Trot Nixon is the right fielder.

Best of Twitter:

• The Yankees seriously own the Orioles this season...

• A week ago, TnT looked like they might be getting back on track, but Wednesday was another step in the wrong direction...

• Could one of the A’s top prospects be nearing his MLB debut?