
OAKLAND — The A’s victory Friday night included equal doses of fiery passion and light-hearted levity.
Josh Reddick played a part in both.
He dusted off a classic for his walk-up song, as Wham’s “Careless Whisper” blared over the P.A. system each time he walked to the plate. The offbeat selection always adds an element of wackiness to the festivities at The Coliseum.
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But Reddick backed it up with a mammoth homer and four runs scored, including the go-ahead run in the seventh as the A’s rallied for an 8-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays to open up the second half on a positive note.
It was the first time Reddick went to “Careless Whisper” this season, after he debuted it in 2014 and sampled it briefly in 2015 as well.
[RECAP: Instant Replay: A's beat Blue Jays thanks to overturned call]
“It’s funny. It’s worked out three years in a row,” Reddick said. “Every time I’ve done it I’ve hit a homer in the first game. I just try not to abuse it, kinda give the fans something to be happy over. They seem to love it a lot more than most people.”
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A’s manager Bob Melvin said his right fielder tipped him off that something special was coming.
“He didn’t tell me which song, but he said ‘You’re gonna know it, you’re gonna like it,’” Melvin said. “I know it, I like it. He should stick with it.”
[WATCH: Reddick explains 'Careless Whisper' song choice after 'huge win']
The A’s were a team due for a little cheer. The day began with somewhat of a reality check with the promotion of third baseman Ryon Healy, the demotion of center fielder Billy Burns and the news that veterans Danny Valencia and Coco Crisp are among those that stand to lose playing time to younger players. It’s a sign that the front office is transitioning into ‘evaluation’ mode, with an eye toward the future as the A’s took a 38-51 record into the All-Star break.
It also points to trades of the ‘sell’ variety being made before the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
For a night, that storyline was put on hold. The A’s fed off the the emotion of Melvin and first baseman Yonder Alonso getting ejected in the fourth inning and erased a 7-3 deficit to beat a Toronto team that seems to be prepping for a second-half charge in the American League East.
Speaking of the fuse that was lit when Melvin and Alonso got tossed by home plate umpire Mark Wegner for arguing about the strike zone, catcher Stephen Vogt said: “It was something that kind of needed to happen tonight. I'll leave it at that.”
In his new role as a reserve, Valencia wound up entering the game to replace Alonso at first base following the ejections. He singled and lined out to center. Melvin said Valencia, a definite trade candidate, will still get playing time against lefties, either at first base, left field or DH. And he said Valencia will start Saturday because he’s homered twice in six at-bats against knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who takes the mound for Toronto.
But it will be interesting to see how the 24-year-old Healy develops in an extended audition. He went 0-for-4 with a strikeout but made two nice plays at third, showing good hands and a strong arm.
“You don’t have to get hits to contribute,” Melvin said.
Reddick contributed before the game even began. He took the lineup card out to the umpires, a chore he also handled for a stretch in late May during his DL stint. That was during a time the A’s won five in a row.
Knowing Melvin’s superstitious knack for not messing with a good thing, Reddick noted: “I’ll be back out there tomorrow.”
Whatever played into Friday night’s formula, the A’s need to tap into it more often.