Elephant Rumblings: Brent Rooker a bright spot in a lost season

Rooker has been one of the best players in the majors over the first quarter of the season

Brent Rooker helped the Oakland Athletics snap a five-game losing streak with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning to beat the Rangers 9-7. Rooker’s emergence has been a bright spot in an otherwise lost season for the A’s. Rooker had a double to go along with his 11th home run of the season which is tied for the American League lead and is fourth in the majors. For the season, Rooker is hitting .319/.428/.673 with a 203 wRC+. He is currently tied for seventh in the majors with 1.8 fWAR.

Esteury Ruiz also had a big game Friday with three hits, including his first major league home run. It has been fascinating for me to follow Ruiz over the first part of the season. He has been successful at the top of the order despite a minuscule walk-rate of 2.9%. His .341 on-base percentage is still a little on the low side, but has been propped up with 44 hits and nine hit by pitches, which leads the majors. Like Rooker, Ruiz has been an exciting player to watch and sometimes in loss seasons, you have to cling to individual performances.

A’s Coverage

• Rooker adds to storybook season with first walk-off homer
• A’s beat Rangers on Brent Rooker’s walk-off homer in 10th
• A’s fans turn to tomato-throwing protest prior to Friday’s game
• A’s trade Pablo Reyes to Red Sox for cash considerations

MLB News

• Red Sox to select Pablo Reyes
• Max Scherzer on track to return Sunday or Monday
• Drew Rasmussen shut down for two months with flexor strain
• Rays claim Zack Littell off waivers from Red Sox
• Astros shut down Michael Brantley due to shoulder inflammation
• Cubs place Nico Hoerner on injured list
• Antonio Senzatela shut down with elbow sprain
• Luis Campusano undergoes thumb surgery, expected to miss eight weeks

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Ruiz’s first career homer

The walk-off blast

Mark Kotsay on Friday’s win

Kotsay on the A’s good luck charm Friday night