OAKLAND -- Everyone knows Adam Dunn can change a game with one swing. But can one swing by Dunn change the trajectory of a season?Dunn hit a two-run homer on Monday with his very first swing as a member of the A's, becoming the 12th player in Oakland history to homer in his first at-bat with the club. In the process, he appeared to breathe new life into an offense that has lost its mojo in recent weeks 
Dunn's shot to right was the first big blow in a five-run first inning, giving the A's an early cushion that Jason Hammel protected valiantly in the series opener against the Mariners at the O.co Coliseum.Hammel tossed eight innings of one-run, three-hit ball, and Oakland went on to win, 6-1, to begin a six-game homestand -- and the final month of the regular season -- on the right foot.The victory came on the heels of a demoralizing four-game sweep in Anaheim, after which manager Bob Melvin addressed his squad in a closed-door meeting. Publicly, the skipper called their performance "embarrassing" and "pathetic."His message may have sunk in. The A's, who scored four runs total in four games in Anaheim, looked like their old selves again, tagging Seattle starter Chris Young for five runs in just two-thirds of an inning.Dunn finished 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, while catcher Geovany Soto, making his Coliseum debut, had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the first.Jed Lowrie returned from the disabled list and had a pair of hits, as did Josh Reddick, and the A's finished with 11 hits in total.Just as encouraging as the offensive burst was the sparkling performance of Hammel, who lasted eight innings for the first time since May 27, 2013, and held his opponent to one run for a second straight outing.After posting a 9.53 ERA in his first four A's starts, Hammel now has a 2.40 ERA in his last five. He threw 111 pitches and tallied his second win in green and gold.With the Angels off on Monday, the Wild Card-leading A's moved to 4 1/2 games back in the American League West.Aaron Leibowitz / MLB.com
Dunn's shot to right was the first big blow in a five-run first inning, giving the A's an early cushion that Jason Hammel protected valiantly in the series opener against the Mariners at the O.co Coliseum.Hammel tossed eight innings of one-run, three-hit ball, and Oakland went on to win, 6-1, to begin a six-game homestand -- and the final month of the regular season -- on the right foot.The victory came on the heels of a demoralizing four-game sweep in Anaheim, after which manager Bob Melvin addressed his squad in a closed-door meeting. Publicly, the skipper called their performance "embarrassing" and "pathetic."His message may have sunk in. The A's, who scored four runs total in four games in Anaheim, looked like their old selves again, tagging Seattle starter Chris Young for five runs in just two-thirds of an inning.Dunn finished 2-for-3 and was hit by a pitch, while catcher Geovany Soto, making his Coliseum debut, had a two-run single with the bases loaded in the first.Jed Lowrie returned from the disabled list and had a pair of hits, as did Josh Reddick, and the A's finished with 11 hits in total.Just as encouraging as the offensive burst was the sparkling performance of Hammel, who lasted eight innings for the first time since May 27, 2013, and held his opponent to one run for a second straight outing.After posting a 9.53 ERA in his first four A's starts, Hammel now has a 2.40 ERA in his last five. He threw 111 pitches and tallied his second win in green and gold.With the Angels off on Monday, the Wild Card-leading A's moved to 4 1/2 games back in the American League West.Aaron Leibowitz / MLB.com
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
