A's hit back-to-back homers twice vs. Padres

SAN DIEGO -- A Khris Davis-less A's lineup managed just fine Wednesday afternoon, churning out five home runs while their best slugger, bothered by a stomach issue, watched from the sidelines.
Back-to-back homers in consecutive innings helped the A's cruise to a 12-4 victory over the host Padres at Petco Park, giving them four straight wins ahead of stops in Chicago and Detroit.
Infield prospect Franklin Barreto belted the biggest blast of the day, his three-run shot off Padres starter Joey Lucchesi kickstarting the barrage in the second. It was Barreto's first of the year, and Josh Phegley would get his, too, seconds thereafter, for a four-run advantage.
"We have it in us, that's for sure, and the ball carries a little better during day games here, similar to our place," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We started out early, led by Frankie [Barreto], which was good to see.
"Getting him some consistent at-bats, he's got a chance to be a productive guy, and he showed why. The more he's out there, the more comfortable he's going to be."
Lucchesi's departure with two outs in the inning didn't derail the A's, who came back for more in the third. Mark Canha and Matt Olson teamed up for consecutive homers to open the inning against lefty reliever Robbie Erlin. For Canha, it was his ninth of the year; Olson, his 15th. Barreto singled and scored to cap the three-run frame, offering plenty of wiggle room for Frankie Montas.

Not since May 14, 1997, had the A's enjoyed consecutive homers in consecutive innings. Bash Brothers Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire went deep in the third against the Brewers, and Matt Stairs and Canseco did it in the fourth.
"I wanted to hit the ball really bad, but the guys were doing it for me," Montas said. "So I was just going to do my job pitching."
The right-hander gave the A's 6 2/3 innings, allowing one run on five hits with three walks and six strikeouts. At the plate, Montas was the only member of the club's starting nine to not reach base, with the A's tallying 15 hits on the day -- including two each from Barreto, Olson, Marcus Semien, Chad Pinder and Jed Lowrie, who collected his second home run in as many days with a two-run offering in the eighth.

"Normally, you see a game where we score 12 runs and hit a few homers, Khris Davis is right in the middle of it, but Jed seems to be swinging a lot better now, certainly it was nice to see Ollie hit a homer, Canha, Phegley," Melvin said. "We definitely have some power. That's one of the strengths of the team."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Barreto entered the day with just one hit to his name in 14 at-bats with the A's this season. His two-hit, three-RBI performance could earn him more playing time at second base while Lowrie holds down the hot corner in place of an injured Matt Chapman.

"I'm feeling more and more comfortable," Barreto said through interpreter Fernando Alcala. "Obviously I'm not playing every day, but I'm focused on being ready and putting my best foot forward on each of those days I'm in there."

SOUND SMART
The A's have homered in 21 consecutive road games, tying the longest streak in franchise history. They have 62 home runs in 34 games on the road, most in the Majors, compared to 36 homers in 40 games at home.
"Once we get back home, it's going to be Indian summer," Melvin said, smiling, "and the ball's going to be carrying there again."
HE SAID IT
"He needed that, so I'm really happy for him." -- Montas, on Barreto
UP NEXT
The A's will head to Chicago for four games with the White Sox. Right-hander Chris Bassitt, a 16th-round Draft pick of the White Sox in 2011, will toe the rubber for the A's in Thursday's 5:10 p.m. PT opener at U.S. Cellular Field. Chicago will counter with right-hander Lucas Giolito (4-7, 7.19 ERA).