photo from sfgate.com: Oakland Athletics’ Jurickson Profar (23) greets Ramon Laureano, right, at the top of the dugout after Laureano hit a three-run home run against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Friday, Sept. 13, 2019

#1 The Oakland A’s, who hold onto first place in the AL wild card, have done some things this past week that defy a club that could be in first place in the AL West and they did their best impression of the Houston Astros taking three out of four from them at Minute Maid Park early last week.

#2 The Astros — no easy customer — welcomed Oakland to Houston with a crushing 15-0 blow to start the four-game series, but the A’s answered right back last Tuesday with a score that looked more like a football game than baseball 21-7 in game two on Tuesday.

#3 Beating a guy like Justin Verlander is a tough task to do in the Astros’ house, but they pulled it off last Thursday night scratching a one-run win and dropping Verlander to a 18-6 record. It certainly was a series for the Astros leaving them scratching their heads.

#4 The A’s on Friday night opened up some of that offense again this time in Arlington against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Park with a 14-9 win and like Tuesday night. They were in the home run mood belting five to open the series.

#5 The A’s in game three of the series will be starting Sean Manaea (1-0, 0.75 ERA) against the Rangers’ Jonathan Hernandez (1-0, 1.93 ERA)  on a Sunday starter later.

Joey does the A’s podcasts each Sunday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com