Move over, Bash Brothers. There's a new king of the long ball in Oakland.
The 2019 Oakland A's set a franchise record with their 244th home run of the season on Sunday in a 6-1 win over the Texas Rangers.
Welcome to the Bashin' A's Era#NewProfilePic— Oakland A's (@Athletics) September 15, 2019
Marcus Semien launched his 30th home run of the season in the third inning to match the record at 243. Then in the ninth, Matt Chapman blasted his 34th homer to set the new mark.
"I think it means a lot for our whole team, in general, to be able to take that record with an organization that's had a Mark McGwire and a Jose Canseco and guys like that," Chapman told reporters. "It just shows that we have a lot of good players on our team. I was the lucky one who got to break the record but I don't think I'd be here without Oly (Matt Olson) and Marcus (Semien) and a lot of those guys. It was definitely a team effort."
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A new franchise record for HRs in a single season 🙌 pic.twitter.com/nm180559WX— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) September 15, 2019
Semien's home run gives the A's three players with at least 30 long balls for the first time since 2001, when Jason Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejada accomplished the feat.
"30 home runs for Marcus Semien -- I don't even know what to say about that," A's manager Bob Melvin told reporters. "Leading off and what he does defensively, the numbers that he's putting up, his leadership."
Added Chapman: "Amazing. It just goes to show that hard work pays off and he just continually got better. He was able to make adjustments every year. He'd go home in the offseason and figure out what he wants to work on -- his weaknesses -- and he would go and get better and turn them into his strengths."
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Stay hot Marcus Semien 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HFncuoRDZo— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) September 15, 2019
Incredibly, the A's still have 12 games left to add to their new record. Chapman and Matt Olson currently lead the squad with 34 round-trippers and have a shot at reaching 40. Mark Canha, Ramon Laureano, Khris Davis, and Jurickson Profar give the A's an Oakland-record seven players with 20 or more home runs.
