OAKLAND - It's starting to feel like bigger news when Khris Davis doesn't homer.
The 30-year-old A's slugger belted his 31st home run of the season, and 10th in 14 games Sunday, as the A's shut out the Tigers 6-0.
"They're just going out right now," Davis shrugged. "I'm just trying to make it last as long as possible."
Davis' 10 long balls since the All-Star break are tied for the most in the majors. Overall, his 31 homers rank third. He is on pace to reach 40 home runs for the third straight season.
Sunday's blast was especially impressive. Davis hit a line shot to center, with just a 21-degree launch angle, that ended up traveling 405 feet.
"When he first hit it, I'm thinking base hit to center field," said A's manager Bob Melvin. "Then you watch it carry and you're goin,g 'Maybe it gets over his head.' Next thing you know, it's over the fence."
Sports
Over his last 14 games, Davis is batting .298 with those 10 homers and 22 RBI.
"The craziest part is he's hitting good pitches too, pitches that you throw as a pitcher and I don't know what else you would do," said starting pitcher Trevor Cahill. "I think that's the thing that is really frustrating [for opposing pitchers]. It's not just a guy who's getting cookies."
Asked how he would try to get Davis out, Cahill responded, "Walk him and hopefully the next guy hits into a double play."
That seems to be the only reasonable strategy right now.
