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OAKLAND -- With a 14-hit performance by the A¡¯s offense and six shutout innings from JP Sears, several players were worthy of taking the traditional celebratory postgame free throw after Friday¡¯s 9-2 win over the Angels. But on this night, the team deferred the honor to its skipper.

Mark Kotsay earned the 100th victory of his managerial career, thus leading to his players handing him the basketball to take the shot on the mini-hoop inside the A¡¯s clubhouse, which Kotsay drained on the first try.

Speaking with reporters shortly after the celebration, Kotsay maintained a modest outlook on his achievement.

¡°It¡¯s just a number,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°I don¡¯t like to talk about myself.¡±

Landing his first managerial gig with the A¡¯s in December 2021, Kotsay became just the second manager in the Oakland era (since 1968) with no prior managerial experience. He inherited a team that underwent a roster teardown and began a rebuild in his debut season. The result has been far more losing than winning over the past two years. After losing 102 games last season, the A¡¯s are on pace to eclipse that loss total in ¡®23.

¡°We¡¯ve been through a lot of challenges this year as a group,¡± Kotsay said. ¡°The mindset that we¡¯ve created is that we¡¯re going to grind and work until the end. We¡¯re going to utilize this time to form a culture and identity with these younger players to, hopefully, hit the ground running next Spring Training. I think they¡¯ve bought in.¡±

Despite it being a second consecutive lost season, Kotsay has succeeded in building that culture of never giving up until the very end. After going 12-50 over their first 62 games, the A¡¯s are 28-45 over their last 73 games dating back to June 6, and are playing much more competitive baseball with each passing month.

¡°That¡¯s awesome for him,¡± Sears said of Kotsay¡¯s 100th win. ¡°This year didn¡¯t start how we wanted to, but it doesn¡¯t mean the [final] month doesn¡¯t matter. We have a lot of guys here that are really hungry. Competitors that want to win. That¡¯s what he preaches every day. Competing against the other team, no matter what the record is. I think that¡¯s been evident with how we¡¯ve been playing over the last week or two.¡±

Friday¡¯s win certainly provided a glimpse of what the A¡¯s believe is a brighter future ahead. Leading the offensive explosion was the rookie quartet of Zack Gelof, Esteury Ruiz, Ryan Noda and Jordan Diaz, which combined to go 10-for-17 with six doubles and a home run.

Those four players are part of a core of young talent that is looking to finish September on a high note and carry some momentum into 2024.