MESA, Ariz. - On days Rajai Davis is getting a rest, Bob Melvin needs a leadoff man, so Thursday at Hohokam Stadium, he had new right fielder Matt Joyce atop the lineup, with Jed Lowrie batting second.
That looked pretty darn good in Oakland’s 12-5 win over the Reds. Joyce opened the A’s four run-first with a base hit and opened their five-run second inning with a walk - and walked again later that inning. And Lowrie, another candidate to bat leadoff on occasion, had three hits.
“That’s what those guys do,” A’s manager Melvin said.