The Athletics beat the Royals 16-0 Friday night. Frankie Montas pitched eight shutout innings. He did not get the chance to complete the game, however, having thrown 99 pitches. He moved into the Oakland rotation this season after making 23 relief appearances in 2017 and getting hammered. He’s 25 years old, so I don’t see why the Athletics didn’t let him finish.

Montas faced 30 batters, walked none, hit two, and struck out two. The Royals, as their wont, put the ball in play and were 7 for 26 doing so (.269). In general, they are about league average putting the ball in play with a .298 BABIP. They went 0 for 9, however, with runners in scoring position.

Most of the damage on offense came from the bottom of the Oakland order. Stephen Piscotty, Dustin Fowler, and Jonathan Lucroy combine for a 8 for 15 night with a double, a triple, and two home runs. Lucroy hit the triple, his first of the year and 23rd of his career. That’s pretty good for a catcher.

Oakland is two game over .500 and remains in the hunt for a playoff berth.