Mancini's two-homer game and other notes from the win

OAKLAND, Calif. - If Trey Mancini was in a slump, it was hard to notice. But he did have just three hits his previous 23 at-bats going into last night's series opener at Oakland. His average had dipped below .300 and he went 0-for-11 to start the road trip.

But he matched that hit total last night, going 3-for-4 with a double and two solo homers as the Orioles beat Oakland 7-2 in front of 11,386 at the Oakland Coliseum.

The Orioles hit back-to-back homers twice, and both times it happened on consecutive pitches. Mancini was on the back end of that with manAdam Jones in the fourth, and on the front end with Mark Trumbo in the sixth.

He blasted balls 391 and 438 feet. This was his fourth career two-homer game and his first career three-extra-base-hit game.

Slump? What slump?

"Honestly, part of it was just some balls dropping in," Mancini said. "There were a couple that got hit hard in Anaheim that got caught. For the most part, wasn't feeling great, which happens throughout the season. Just coming back today and trying to just hit the ball to right center, especially off of (Oakland starter Chris) Smith there. You've got to be patient with him. He mixes his pitches up, and sometimes you can get a tendency to get too big on a guy like him, so just kind of slowing yourself down and really concentrating on seeing the ball is important."

In the A's clubhouse, Smith told reporters he was rather impressed with Mancini.

"Guy can hit," Smith said. "Probably the best hitter on the planet. I knew he had a big leg kick and I tried to offset the timing, I tried to quick-pitch him, he hit it. I tried to go fastball away, he hit it. That guy is on fire right now and I ran in there with a gas can on my back."

Mancini said the big game provides a confidence booster.

"Definitely, any day like today definitely will. More importantly, it was a huge win for us, a really big win and hopefully we can keep it going these next few days."

Mark hit a Trumb-bomb: In his second game back off the disabled list, Trumbo ended an 0-for-24 stretch with a 406-foot homer to left in the sixth.

Was manager Buck Showalter relieved to see Trumbo snap an 0-fer that dated back to before he went on the disabled list, retroactive to July 30?

"I think it is not for me, but it is more for him. Mark has such high expectations every at-bat, and I know how he lives with it. He wants to do well, every aspect of the game, every day. I don't have any problem with that. He handles it well, but it eats at him," Showalter said.

Davis sits: Slumping slugger Chris Davis got the night off on Thursday. Before the game, Showalter indicated Davis could also sit out tonight's game.

"We'll see if we take two (days off)," he said. "Lot depends on what happens over the next 24 to 48 hours with some work that he is going to do."

Davis has just two hits his last 25 at-bats and one homer his past 17 games. For the season, Davis is batting .212/.311/.427 with nine doubles, a triple, 18 homers and 41 RBIs. His OPS of .739 is down from last season's mark of .792, and well down from the 1.004 he put up in 2013 and the .923 of 2015.

"When he struggles, it can be a challenge for him. We're going to need him these last six weeks or so. I have a lot of confidence that he's going to be the guy that we can count on," Showalter added.

Miley's breaking ball: Let's not forget that Wade Miley had a very good start last night. It didn't begin well, as he needed 26 pitches to get through a first inning in which he gave up an unearned run. But he would get through seven innings on 111 pitches. He gave up just three hits and the one run. Over his past three starts, he is 2-0 with a 2.12 ERA.

Miley usually throws his curveball about eight percent of the time. Last night he used the pitch 23 percent. He threw 26 curveballs and got six swings and misses by the A's on the pitch, which he consistently buried down in the zone.

"It's by design," Miley said of using the pitch so much. "Trying to get something to have a pitch to get ahead with. I've actually been able to use it to put away guys, which is something I really haven't done much in my career with the curveball. Yeah, it's good. Hopefully, I keep it going."

Beckham still hitting: Moved to the leadoff spot in the order last night, shortstop Tim Beckham led off the game with a booming triple to center field. He added a double later as part of a 2-for-5 night. He is batting .500 (20-for-40) in 10 games as an Oriole, with four doubles, two triples, three homers and six RBIs. Beckham has seven multi-hit games with the team.

He has hit safely in his first 10 games with the Orioles. According to STATS, LLC., only three players have had a longer hitting streak to begin an Orioles career.

15 games: David Newhan (6/18 to 7/03/2004)
13 games: Javy Lopez (4/04 to 4/21/2004)
11 games: Eric Byrnes (7/30 to 8/10/2005)
10 games: Al Smith (4/08 to 4/21/1963)
10 games: Will Clark (4/05 to 4/16/1999)
10 games: Tim Beckham (8/1/2017 - active)