A’s give ‘banged-up’ Billy Burns a night off
A’s give ‘banged-up’ Billy Burns a night off
Oakland center fielder Billy Burns’ 15-game hitting streak was put on pause Friday.
Burns, whose streak matches the longest for any A’s player in the past five years, was out of Oakland’s lineup in the series opener against the Royals.
Oakland manager Bob Melvin said he was giving a “banged-up” outfielder the day off.
Melvin said he hopes to have Burns back in Saturday’s lineup.
In Burns’ absence, the batting order was unusual, with Eric Sogard leading off and Brett Lawrie batting second for the first time this year.
Lawrie was at the center of attention when Oakland and Kansas City last met.
Reliever Pat Venditte is to play catch Saturday for the first time since going on the disabled list June 12 with a strained right shoulder.
College rivalry spillover:
Pitcher Sonny Gray, who went to Vanderbilt, was sporting a University of Virginia shirt through batting practice Friday, and he wasn’t happy about it.
Gray’s clothing was the result of losing a bet with Virginia alum Sean Doolittle.
The Cavaliers beat the Commodores 4-2 on Wednesday to win the College World Series.
Mike Vernon is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.
[...] baseman Eric Sogard took Billy Burns’ normal spot as the team’s leadoff hitter for Friday’s game.
Sogard has batted primarily ninth for Oakland this season.