By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, June 12, 2014

Following Thursday’s day off, the Oakland Athletics return to the Coliseum for a 10-game homestand. Highlights include a farewell to Yankees legend Derek Jeter, an AL West series with Texas and the defending World Series champion Boston Red Sox make their only visit for the season to Oakland.

The New York Yankees visit for a Friday-through-Sunday set that includes fireworks after Friday’s game. The A’s will honor Jeter prior to Sunday’s contest.

Texas visits for a Monday-through-Wednesday series, followed by the Red Sox coming in for a four-game set starting on June 19. The homestand ends with a Coco Crisp Garden Gnome giveaway to 20,000 fans.

The Athletics not only lead the AL West, they also sport the American League’s best record at 40-26. The A’s lead the second-place Los Angeles Angels by 3 ½ games and Seattle by 6.

In the weekend series opener against New York, the Yankees (34-31) will get their first look at A’s starter Sonny Gray. Yanks outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury is on a 16-game hitting streak and is expected to play Friday.

Gray, meanwhile, is 6-2 with a 2.82 ERA while limiting opponents to a .222 batting average. Also, look for Josh Reddick to be reactivated some time during the homestand. Reddick was placed on the disabled list on June 1 for a hyperextended right knee.