Surging A’s pull within three games of wild card with series win vs. Giants

SAN FRANCISCO - With a 21-6 record since mid-June, the Oakland Athletics are storming into the All-Star break on quite a roll.

Their ace is pitching like he was earlier in the season and they’re continuing to hit home runs on the road at a sizzling rate.

Stephen Piscotty went deep for the fifth time in nine games on Sunday as the A’s beat the San Francisco Giants 6-2.

“We’re playing really confident baseball and we’re making a charge here.” Piscotty said. “We’re really happy with how we finished. We’re right there, so we’re excited to keep going.”

Oakland still trails first-place Houston by eight games in the AL West but moved within three games of Seattle for the second wild card spot. Four weeks ago the A’s were 11 games behind the Mariners.

“We certainly have the ability to be a playoff team,” All-Star second baseman Jed Lowrie said. “At this point it’s got to be a narrow focus. Keep the eye on the prize but narrow the focus.”

Sean Manaea allowed two runs in six innings for his fourth consecutive win. Lowrie walked and scored in his return to the lineup following a scary collision in right field two nights earlier for Oakland. Matt Chapman added two hits.

The surging A’s have won nine of 12 and lead the majors with 85 home runs on the road.

All-Star shortstop Brandon Crawford had two hits for the Giants, who lost a home series for the first time since dropping two of three at AT&T Park to Arizona from April 8-10.

San Francisco has hit only six home runs in July. Manager Bruce Bochy said his team needs to drive the ball a little bit more the second half of the season.

“What we need more than anything is some power. Not just home runs. We’re not driving the ball,” Bochy said.

Piscotty singled in Jed Lowrie in the fourth against starter Andrew Suarez (3-6) then homered off Reyes Moronta in the sixth. It is Piscotty’s 12th this season and fifth this month.

Piscotty’s hit in the fourth was the first of three consecutive RBI singles off Suarez. Matt Olson and Matt Chapman also drove in runs while Jonathan Lucroy added a sacrifice fly to put Oakland up 4-1.

A’s manager Bob Melvin said Piscotty is hitting his stride after dealing with the death of his mother earlier this season.

“Now he’s just playing baseball and he’s got a nice little angel sitting there with him,” Melvin said. “I think he’s aware of that, too. It’s an inspiration for him. He’s playing as good as anybody we have on our team at this point.”