Khris Davis is back in the A’s lineup for the second game in a row as the designated hitter in the do-or-die Game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series on Thursday.
That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but it's especially important to manager Bob Melvin.
“It’s nice to have KD in there,” Melvin said on Thursday. “It’s nice he’s showing up really well right now, it’s a relief to put him in there -- it’s hard not to put him in there, it bothers me when I can’t put him in there.”
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On Wednesday in the second game of the series against the Chicago White Sox, Davis hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to help the A's extend their lead. It looked as if Davis was back to his old ways.
The swing was reminiscent of the 2018 stint where Davis smacked a league-leading 48 home runs.
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Davis also followed his home run with blowing a kiss to center field where his family, and the A’s significant others, were cheering from the suites.
Melvin has believed in Davis from the beginning despite the slugger's long slump, which began after he suffered an oblique injury in 2019 that would bother him more than anyone spoke about.
This season in 30 games played, Davis hit two home runs while tallying 17 hits and batting .200. Last season left a lot to be desired for the 32-year-old as well.
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The home run on Wednesday was bigger than just a homer, however.
“There’s a human side to this whole thing too,” Melvin said. “I have a great relationship with him and I love the man, so the days he’s not in there are really hard.”