Oakland Athletics’ Khris Davis, right, is congratulated by third base coach Steve Scarsone (15) after hitting a home run off Texas Rangers’ Nick Martinez during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Ben Margot

By Matthew Harrington

OAKLAND, Calif. — Friday night at the Oakland Coliseum Khrush raked a pair of homers off Tricky and Digger pitched a masterful outing to lift the A’s over the Texas Rangers 3-1. B-Locky nailed down his 9^th save, and no, this contest wasn’t decided by professional wrestlers, monster trucks or wackily-named mascots.

With the inaugural Players’ weekend underway, Major Leaguers wore special uniforms with the nicknames of their choosing on the back and a patch of the player’s favorite charity on the sleeve to raise awareness. So while any other day, Khris Davis would have picked up the double-dinger night and Kendall Graveman the win, instead we get the Khrush and Digger show.

“I better live up to that name,” said Davis of his moniker. “It was fun. I’d just like to turn into that character when I’m on the field.”

Graveman (4-4, 4.24 ERA) pitched a strong 7 innings, allowing 9 hits while striking out 6 Rangers. He gave up an RBI single to Adrian Beltre in the first inning, but was sparkling over the remainder of his outing for the win.

He had to battle Rangers starter Nick Martinez (3-5, 5.26) all night though. “Tricky” lived up to his name, allowing only one hit over the first 6 innings. That lone hit would be Davis’ 35^th homer, a shot that barely cleared the yellow line over the left centerfield out-of-town scoreboard.

Three innings later, Davis would take Martinez out to the deepest part of the part, launching a 2-0 fastball just next to the Holy Toledo sign in centerfield for a 2-1 A’s lead.
“He’s always one swing away from doing what he does best,” said A’s manager Bob Melvin

Matt Chapman also tagged Martinez for a run after singling home Matt Joyce after the outfield doubled earlier in the inning. Chapman would be thrown out at second trying to stretch the single, closing the book on Martinez after going 7 innings with just 4 hits.

Chris Hatcher pitched a scoreless 8^th, then Blake Treinen closed out the game with pair of punchouts in the 9^th for his 9^th save of the season.

Saturday Melvin turns to Da Kid, Sean Manaea to help the A’s take the W in the weekend series. Texas sends Cole Hamels to the mound with Hollywood looking for his 10^th win of the year.