Toronto left-hander Ricky Romero credited his teammates for picking him up during his last start. If his history against the Oakland Athletics is any indication, he probably won’t need much help his next time out.

Romero will try to continue his domination of the Athletics on Tuesday night when the Blue Jays open a two-game set in Oakland.

The Jays are off to an uneven start on their 10-game road trip. After opening with consecutive shutout wins against the Los Angeles Angels, they settled for a split of the four-game series following a 4-3 defeat Sunday.

Drew Hutchison gave up Albert Pujols‘ first homer of the season in the fifth inning to put the Angels up 4-1, and Toronto’s rally was stifled by double plays in the eighth and ninth on a popup and a liner.

“I don’t think we are satisfied,” manager John Farrell said of the split. “I don’t know if we can ever be satisfied splitting a series when we had ourselves set up for a series win.”

With Romero (4-0, 3.64 ERA) taking the mound Tuesday, Farrell has to feel good about his club’s chances of bouncing back. Romero is off to the best start of his career record-wise, and opponents are hitting .195 against him – second-best among AL lefties.

He wasn’t at his best Wednesday, allowing a season-high five runs to a potent Texas lineup, but he made it through eight innings for the third time this season and got plenty of support in an 11-5 win.

“It’s just one of those things where I couldn’t find it, but I was able to settle down,” he told the Blue Jays’ official website. “The offense picked me up today … and I just had to go out and make pitches.”

Romero hasn’t needed much help against the Athletics, going 4-0 with a 1.49 ERA in five starts – most recently a three-hit shutout Aug. 18 in Oakland.

The A’s, however, return home after scoring four runs or more six times during a 5-4 trip.

Oakland (15-14) finished the trek with consecutive wins over Tampa Bay, including a 9-5 victory Sunday for its fourth victory in five games.

Brandon Inge, released by Detroit last month, homered for the first time with the A’s and drove in four runs while Jonny Gomes and Daric Barton knocked in two runs apiece.

“A three-team swing can be a little taxing,” manager Bob Melvin said, “but it was an above .500 road trip and we’ll take it.”

Josh Reddick didn’t have a hit Sunday, but walked twice and scored twice. He hit .306 during the road trip with three homers and seven RBIs.

Yoenis Cespedes had two hits and drove in a run Sunday, but hit .205 during the trip. A return home might help as he’s batting .316 with three homers and 11 RBIs in 11 games in Oakland.

Brandon McCarthy (2-3, 2.96) will start Tuesday for Oakland to give rookie Jarrod Parker an extra day off.

McCarthy has a 2.18 ERA over his last three starts. He allowed one run in 6 2-3 innings of a 4-2 win at Boston on Wednesday for his second straight victory, although he’s still looking for his first home win of 2012.

The right-hander is 3-2 with a 3.79 ERA against the Blue Jays.

ST. PETERSBURG –

Tampa Bay Rays LF Desmond Jennings left Sunday’s game against the Oakland Athletics after the second inning due to soreness in his left knee.

Manager Joe Maddon said Jennings was being evaluated and didn’t know whether he would be available for Tuesday night’s game in New York against the Yankees. Maddon said he believed Jennings was hurt during a first-inning slide, when he scored the game’s first run on Jeff Keppinger’s sacrifice fly.

Jennings is batting .270 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 29 games.

Maddon said if Jennings can’t play, he likely would station Matt Joyce in left and Ben Zobrist in right.

“Hopefully, Desmond isn’t banged up too bad,” Joyce said.

Joyce’s 3-hit afternoon

Joyce, who was batting just .174 (4-for-23) against left-handed pitching this season, collected three singles against Oakland’s lefties. Maddon was particularly pleased with Joyce’s eighth-inning at-bat against Brian Fuentes, which produced an opposite-field hit.

It was only the second time in Joyce’s major-league career that he had a three-hit game against left-handed pitching.

“I was excited to get the at-bats against lefties,” said Joyce, who is batting .292. “I take advantage of every opportunity I get. I’ve never really had a problem before (hitting lefties). It’s not something I’m going to go crazy over. It’s more of a comfortability factor.”

S-Rod’s late highlight

The game was out of hand in the ninth, but SS Sean Rodriguez made a highlight reel play to rob Oakland’s Brandon Inge of a single. Rodriguez left his feet, gloved the ball on one bounce, popped up and delivered a quick one-hopper that 1B Carlos Peña speared for the out.

“Throw the glove at it, get up and get rid of it, that’s all you can do,” Rodriguez said. “And make sure to keep the throw low.”

Ramos up, Gomes down

LHP Cesar Ramos pitched an inning of scoreless relief Sunday. He was called up from Triple-A Durham and arrived Sunday morning.

RHP Brandon Gomes was sent down to Durham.

Ramos learned of the call-up Saturday night while watching the Floyd Mayweather fight with his Durham teammates. Ramos made 59 relief appearances for the Rays last season.

Noteworthy

CF B.J. Upton (.333) homered and walked three times. He had walked only once in his previous 13 games (and 51 plate appearances) this season. … Oakland was 5-for-7 with runners in scoring position against LHP Matt Moore. Coming in, Moore had allowed only four hits with runners in scoring position (4-for-20) and Oakland was batting a league-low .189 (38-for-201) in that situation. …  … Recent acquisition Hideki Matsui will see his first action in Wednesday’s extended spring training game at 1 p.m. in Port Charlotte. Matsui will DH. Once Matsui is in shape, Maddon said the organization will develop a plan based on its need. … Oakland LF Jonny Gomes is now 8-for-19 with four extra-base hits and four RBIs in six games against the Rays, his former team. … Oakland has won 11 of its last 16 games against the Rays. … Oakland’s bullpen didn’t allow a run (152/3 innings, four hits allowed) in the three-game series. … Oakland scored more than seven runs for the first time since last Sept. 10 at Texas, ending a franchise-long streak of 45 straight games with six runs or fewer. … The Rays get a partial off-day at home before leaving this afternoon for New York and beginning an eight-game road trip that also hits Baltimore and Toronto. The next home game is Wednesday, May 16 against Boston.

The Oakland Athletics have placed outfielder Coco Crisp on the disabled list due to an ear infection, according to Hardballtalk.

Crisp’s ear issue has forced him to battle dizziness and head congestion, according to reports. The 32-year-old has hit just .194/.260/.209 with four stolen bases in 18 games this season.

Last year Crisp led the American League with 49 stolen bases while hitting .264/.314/.379 with eight home runs and 54 RBI.

The Athletics will call up Michael Taylor to replace Crisp.  The 26-year-old hit .200/.314/.300 with one home run in an 11 game stint with Oakland last year.

The May 2012 San Francisco Giants schedule has a number of tough games, including a two-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals and a four-game series against the Miami Marlins. The Giants also open up their 2012 interleague schedule from May 18-20 against the Oakland Athletics.

During the month of May, the Giants have only two days off, set for May 10 and 31. This could become a very tough month for the pitching staff. It ends with an important three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks from May 28-30.

Full May 2012 San Francisco Giants Schedule

Tuesday, May 1

Miami at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (FSFL, CSBA)

Wednesday, May 2

Miami at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (FSFL, CSBA)

Thursday, May 3

Miami at San Francisco, 12:45 p.m. PT (FSFL, CSBA)

Friday, May 4

Milwaukee Brewers at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (FSWI, CSBA)

Saturday, May 5

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (FOX)

Sunday, May 6

Milwaukee at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (FSWI, CSBA)

Monday, May 7

San Francisco at Los Angeles Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSPT)

Tuesday, May 8

San Francisco at Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, KCAL)

Wednesday, May 9

San Francisco at Los Angeles, 7:10 p.m. PT (FSPT)

Friday, May 11

San Francisco at Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSAZ)

Saturday, May 12

San Francisco at Arizona, 5:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSAZ)

Sunday, May 13

San Francisco at Arizona, 1:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSAZ)

Monday, May 14

Colorado Rockies at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (ROOT, CSBA)

Tuesday, May 15

Colorado at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (ROOT, CSBA)

Wednesday, May 16

St. Louis at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (FSMW, CSBA)

Thursday, May 17

St. Louis at San Francisco, 12:45 p.m. PT (FSMW, CSBA)

Friday, May 18

Oakland Athletics at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (CSCA)

Saturday, May 19

Oakland at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSCA)

Sunday, May 20

Oakland at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, CSBA)

Monday, May 21

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSWI)

Tuesday, May 22

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 5:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSWI)

Wednesday, May 23

San Francisco at Milwaukee, 10:10 a.m. PT (CSBA)

Thursday, May 24

San Francisco at Miami, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSFL)

Friday, May 25

San Francisco at Miami, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSFL)

Saturday, May 26

San Francisco at Miami, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSFL)

Sunday, May 27

San Francisco at Miami, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSBA, FSFL)

Monday, May 28

Arizona at San Francisco, 2:05 p.m. PT (FSAZ, CSBA)

Tuesday, May 29

Arizona at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (FSAZ)

Wednesday, May 30

Arizona at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (FSAZ, CSBA)

Source:

Giants Team Page

The May 2012 Oakland Athletics schedule is packed with tough games for the team. It begins with two games against the Boston Red Sox from May 1-2 and also includes a three-game series against the New York Yankees from May 25-27.

The Athletics begin their interleague schedule from May 18-20 against the San Francisco Giants, but also have to play a four-game series against the Detroit Tigers from May 10-13.

Full May 2012 Oakland Athletics Schedule

Tuesday, May 1

Oakland at Boston, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, NESN)

Wednesday, May 2

Oakland at Boston, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, NESN)

Friday, May 4

Oakland at Tampa Bay Rays, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, SUN)

Saturday, May 5

Oakland at Tampa Bay, 4:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, SUN)

Sunday, May 6

Oakland at Tampa Bay, 10:40 a.m. PT (CSCA, SUN)

Tuesday, May 8

Toronto Blue Jays at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (RSN, CSCA)

Wednesday, May 9

Toronto at Oakland, 12:35 p.m. PT (RSN)

Thursday, May 10

Detroit at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (FSD, CSCA)

Friday, May 11

Detroit at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (FSD, CSCA)

Saturday, May 12

Detroit at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (FSD, CSCA)

Sunday, May 13

Detroit at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. PT (FSD, CSCA)

Monday, May 14

Oakland at Los Angeles Angels, 7:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSW)

Tuesday, May 15

Oakland at Los Angeles, 4:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSW)

Wednesday, May 16

Oakland at Texas Rangers, 5:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSH

Thursday, May 17

Oakland at Texas, 11:05 a.m. PT (CSCA, FSH)

Friday, May 18

Oakland at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (CSCA)

Saturday, May 19

Oakland at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSCA)

Sunday, May 20

Oakland at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, CSBA)

Monday, May 21

Los Angeles at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (FSW, CSCA)

Tuesday, May 22

Los Angeles at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (FSW, CSCA)

Wednesday, May 23

Los Angeles at Oakland, 12:35 p.m. PT (FSW, CSCA)

Friday, May 25

New York at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (YES, CSCA)

Saturday, May 26

New York at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. PT (YES, CSCA)

Sunday, May 27

New York at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. PT (YES, CSCA)

Monday, May 28

Oakland at Minnesota Twins, 11:10 a.m. PT (CSCA, FSNO)

Tuesday, May 29

Oakland at Minnesota, 5:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSNO)

Wednesday, May 30

Oakland at Minnesota, 10:10 a.m. PT

Source:

Athletics Team Page

The Oakland Athletics avoided a series sweep with a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.        

OAKLAND, Calif. –

Tyson Ross was right at home with family and friends enjoying a birthday celebration and making his second start of the season. His teammates helped give him the best gift of all. 

Seth Smith hit a two-run homer, helping Ross get his first win in nearly a year as the Oakland Athletics avoided a series sweep with a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Sunday.        

“I always seem to end up pitching on my birthday,” said Ross, celebrating his 25th birthday. “This was definitely a good birthday. I’m kind of picking up where I left off before the injury last year.”     

He did not pitch in the majors last season after May 20 because of a strained left oblique.    

“The ability is there,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He was a high pick, he has good stuff and I’ve seen his confidence grow since spring training. It’s a mindset that says ‘here it comes.’ That shows confidence in what he has.”       

Cliff Pennington had two hits and drove in two runs for the A’s, who ended a two-game slide and have won four of six. Kurt Suzuki also drove in a run.      

“It was a nice day for a few of us to get going,” Pennington said. “Any time you have a starting pitcher dealing like that you want to make an effort as an offense to get him the win.”

Ross (1-0) allowed a run and four hits in 6 2-3 innings. He walked a career-high five and struck out four while getting his first victory since last May 14 against the Chicago White Sox.       

Travis Hafner doubled in a run for the Indians, who were trying to start the season 8-1 on the road for the first time since 1910. Hafner reached base in 11 of his 14 plate appearances in the series. 

“We had five leadoff walks and still couldn’t do much with it,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “(Ross) kind of buckled up and made some good pitches after that and had us hitting into double plays a few times.”        

Justin Masterson (0-2) gave up four runs on six hits over five innings and has allowed 17 runs over his last 13 2-3 innings. He walked six and struck out three. Masterson had walked six batters in his previous three starts combined.     

“He struggled a little bit with his command, especially with two outs,” Acta said. “There were a couple of walks that he gave away with two outs that kind of hurt him.” 

Consecutive doubles from Shin-soo Choo and Hafner gave the Indians a 1-0 edge in the first.

Ross caught Jack Hannahan trying to steal third in the second, ending another possible threat.

It was all Athletics after Pennington doubled in a run in the third to tie the score. He had two hits in his previous 24 at-bats at home.        

Following a walk to Kila Ka’aihue leading off the fourth, Smith hit his third home run in six career games against the Indians, a two-run shot that sailed into the right-field bleachers.   

“Home runs are always nice,” Smith said. It felt good to connect.”       

Suzuki added an RBI single in the fifth and Pennington beat out an infield single in the eighth, allowing Eric Sogard to score from second base.

NOTES: The A’s claimed IF Luke Hughes off waivers from Minnesota and transferred LHP Dallas Braden to the 60-day disabled list. … Smith snapped a career-high 45-game homerless streak. … RHP Derek Lowe (2-1, 3.50) makes his fourth start of the year for the Indians when they open a three-game series at home Tuesday against Kansas City. He is 4-5 in 23 appearances against the Royals. … RHP Bartolo Colon(3-1, 2.36) makes the start for the A’s Monday against the Chicago White Sox.Colonthrew 38 straight strikes in his last outing and is working on a 15-inning scoreless streak. … The A’s played their third day game, fewest in theAL. … Hafner reached base safely in 14 of his previous 17 plate appearances before hitting into a double play in the eighth. … Ross became the first A’s pitcher to win on his birthday since Todd Stottlemyre in 1995.

Justin Masterson was unbeatable last April. This year, the Cleveland right-hander is still winless in the month.

Masterson labored his way through a third consecutive start, matching his career-high of six walks while allowing four runs over five innings in the Indians’ 5-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.

That’s 10 walks in the last 8 2/3 innings for Cleveland’s opening-day starter, a trend Masterson doesn’t seem too concerned with despite the results.

“We’re not trying to pick the corners but we seem to be just right there, just missing,” Masterson said. “We’re real close. It’s nothing way out, nothing real crazy. It’s just something that’s happened, a little spree of games. Hopefully we can turn it around.”

Travis Hafner doubled in a run for the Indians, who were trying to start the season 8-1 on the road for the first time since 1910. Hafner reached base in 11 of his 14 plate appearances in the series.

Unlike the first two games, Cleveland failed to generate much offense and repeatedly hurt itself with miscues in the field even though the Indians weren’t charged with any errors.

“There were a couple of plays that we should have been where we didn’t and it cost (Masterson) a few pitches,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “We didn’t score enough runs and gave away way too many outs running the bases and also defensively.”

Seth Smith hit a two-run homer, helping Tyson Ross get his first win in nearly a year to help Oakland avoid a series sweep.

Cliff Pennington had two hits and drove in two runs for the A’s, who ended a two-game slide and have won four of six. Kurt Suzuki also drove in a run.

Ross (1-0) allowed a run and four hits in 6 2/3 innings. He walked five and struck out four while getting his first victory since last May 14 against the Chicago White Sox.

“My whole game is to keep the ball down and let my defense work,” Ross said. “When you get a couple of (double plays), it helps.”

Masterson (0-2), who has allowed 17 runs over his last 13 2/3 innings, threw 111 pitches but only 61 for strikes. The six walks matched the total from his previous three starts combined.

“It’s about attacking the strike zone and being more consistent,” Acta said. “That’s a very low percentage of strikes. You have to be a little bit higher than that to succeed at this level.”

Consecutive doubles from Shin-soo Choo and Hafner gave the Indians a 1-0 edge in the first.

Ross caught Jack Hannahan trying to steal third in the second, ending another possible threat.

It was all Athletics after Pennington doubled in a run in the third to tie the score. He had two hits in his previous 24 at-bats at home.

Following a walk to Kila Ka’aihue leading off the fourth, Smith hit his third home run in six career games against the Indians, a two-run shot that sailed into the right-field bleachers.

Suzuki added an RBI single in the fifth and Pennington beat out an infield single in the eighth, allowing Eric Sogard to score from second base.

NOTES: RHP Derek Lowe (2-1, 3.50) makes his fourth start of the year for the Indians when they open a three-game series at home Tuesday against Kansas City. He is 4-5 in 23 appearances against the Royals. … Hafner reached base safely in 14 of his previous 17 plate appearances before hitting into a double play in the eighth. … CF Michael Brantley went 0-for-4, snapping his seven-game hitting streak.

The 2012 Oakland Athletics interleague schedule begins in May with a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. The games continue into June with additional match-ups against National League West opponents.

In total, the Athletics will play 18 games against the N.L. West, including a long nine-game homestand stretching from June 15-24.

2012 Oakland Athletics Interleague Schedule

May

Friday, May 18

Oakland at San Francisco, 7:15 p.m. PT (CSCA)

Saturday, May 19

Oakland at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, CSBA)

Sunday, May 20

Oakland at San Francisco, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSCA, CSBA)

June

Friday, June 8

Oakland at Arizona Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSAZ)

Saturday, June 9

Oakland at Arizona, 7:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSAZ)

Sunday, June 10

Oakland at Arizona, 1:10 p.m. PT (CSCA, FSAZ)

Tuesday, June 12

Oakland at Colorado Rockies, 5:40 p.m. PT (CSCA, ROOT)

Wednesday, June 13

Oakland at Colorado, 5:40 p.m. PT (CSCA, ROOT)

Thursday, June 14

Oakland at Colorado, 12:10 p.m. PT

Friday, June 15

San Diego Padres at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (FSSD, CSCA)

Saturday, June 16

San Diego at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. PT (FSSD, CSCA)

Sunday, June 17

San Diego at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. PT (FSSD, CSCA)

Tuesday, June 19

Los Angeles Dodgers at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (KCAL, CSCA)

Wednesday, June 20

Los Angeles at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (KCAL, CSCA)

Thursday, June 21

Los Angeles at Oakland, 12:35 p.m. PT (KCAL, CSCA)

Friday, June 22

San Francisco Giants at Oakland, 7:05 p.m. PT (CSCA)

Saturday, June 23

San Francisco at Oakland, 4:15 p.m. PT (FOX)

Sunday, June 24

San Francisco at Oakland, 1:05 p.m. PT (CSBA, CSCA)

Source:

Athletics Team Page

The Oakland Athletics won their first game of the season at home last night facing a tough opponent in the Kansas City Royals. This time it wasn’t Cuban defector Yoenis Cespedes who stole the show, the honor went to starting pitcher Tom Milone instead.

Milone pitched an eight-inning shutout against the Royals, helping the team to a 1-0 victory in their fifth game of the 2012 season. Their lone win had come across the Pacific when they defeated the Seattle Mariners in Tokyo. With their record now at 2-3, the A’s are still at the bottom of the American League West a half game behind the L.A. Angels, but we can hope that the victory in Oakland will help the team build some momentum and enable them to improve throughout the course of the season.

It looks like Milone will be another one of the A’s better decisions over the winter, in addition to their budding star, Cespedes. He came to Oakland in an exchange with the Washington Nationals, one of the key trades for the Athletics and a one of the better steps to taking the team to where they need to be.

In 2011, in Milone’s five starts with the Nationals he went 1-0 with a 3.81 ERA. In the spring, he was 2-1 with a 4.91 ERA and in the exhibition game against Triple-A Sacramento on March 31 he impressed again with six perfect innings before the game was rained out.

Milone may turn out to be one of the Athletics’ most reliable solid pitchers of 2012. In his debut with the A’s in Sacramento, he was compared to Dallas Braden, who pitched baseball’s 1 9th perfect game in 2010 by relying on his control and his defense to get the outs. Milone gave up just three hits, all doubles and three walks in the Saturday night outing.

In Oakland on Monday night, Milone allowed just three hits over eight innings. With the A’s offense stymied by the Royals’ stellar pitcher, Luis Mendoza, the victory really belongs to Milone. Mendoza allowed just one earned run on five hits, struck out two and walked four, and was able to hold off Cespedes, striking the center fielder out twice.

A’s fans needed a little more good news to go along with the impressive rookie’s exceptional performances, and there is no doubt that Milone gave us that in the team’s first win at home this season.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, following the Oakland Athletics since the days of Billy Ball, and attending hundreds of games over the past three decades. Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter, Twitter @kcdermody, or www.kcdermodywriter.com.

More from this contributor:

Oakland Athletics’ Yoenis Cespedes Steals the Show in the Series Against the Mariners: an Reaction

Yoenis Cespedes Helps Oakland A’s Get First Win of the Season: Fan’s Take

Jose Canseco Still Waiting or that Call from Billy Beane

Three Players from the 1989 World Champion Oakland Athletics: Where Are They Now

The Oakland Athletics were defeated in both their home opener on April 6 and the game the following night against the Seattle Mariners, but centerfielder Yoenis Cespedes gave fans a reason to get excited. While Billy Beane may leave fans shaking their heads about some of his decision, there is no denying that he seems to have made a good one when he signed Cespedes to a four-year $36 million deal.

When the A’s faced the Mariners in Tokyo, Cespedes contributed to their first victory of the season by knocking his first major league home run out of the park. He impressed in his spring training debut by hitting a solo home run, in addition to an RBI single and a walk in three at-bats against the Cincinnati Reds.

In Friday night’s home opener for the Athletics, the highlight of the game was Cespedes’ two-run homer that was estimated by Hit Tracker Online to be 462 feet. It was said to be a “monstrous hit,” and he became the first Oakland player to hit three home runs in his first three games in the major leagues.

A’s manager Bob Melvin told Paul Gutierrez of CSNBayArea.com, “You don’t see too many here at night that go that far. He’ll hit them farther than that.”

According to Gutierrez, the 26-year-old center fielder remarked after the game, “I’ve hit some farther in Cuba.”

In the seventh inning during Saturday’s game, Cespedes provided the drama for Oakland once again with a three-run home run, bringing the A’s just one run away from tying the Mariners. Unfortunately they were unable to get another man on base after that, ultimately losing 8-7.

There is no denying that Cespedes could be one of the best decisions that Beane has made this year. Those who questioned whether or not his performance in Cuba would be matched in the major leagues have their answer.

Just before Cespedes took part in spring training he commented through an interpreter, “The most important thing in my life is to play in the big leagues and now it’s a dream come true because I’m going to start (a game) now in spring training.”

Cespedes may be a dream come true for A’s fans as well.

Looking back at another Cuban born player who achieved great success with the A’s, Jose Canseco, his first home run came six games into his first major league season in 1985, his third wasn’t knocked out of the park until his 20th game that year. Mark McGwire, the second half of the famous “Bash Brothers,” hit his third homer seven games into his rookie season in 1986.

Not that those statistics mean too much, but it’s obvious that Cespedes has some incredible potential. The question is, will he stick around with a team that the team that seems to recruit some of the best players only to send them packing?

I asked Dale Tafoya, author of “The Bash Brothers,” his thoughts on the home opener Friday. He was one of many fans who filled the sold-out Coliseum that night. Tafoya remarked, “Tonight’s home opener could very well reflect the remainder of the A’s season. They will lose some games, but Cespedes will generate some excitement in the process. That’s something A’s fans haven’t experienced in the last five years.”

Tafoya echos my thoughts almost exactly. It’s been rather frustrating for fans to watch what used to be considered one of the premier teams in baseball, sink to the depths that they have, not to mention having wait what seems like an endless amount of time to find out what the future holds in regard to a move or a new stadium.

Now we can at least say we have a star in the making with Cespedes, and right now we’ll take whatever positive we can.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, following the Oakland Athletics since the days of Billy Ball, and attending hundreds of games over the past three decades. Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter, Twitter @kcdermody, or www.kcdermodywriter.com.

More from this contributor:

Yoenis Cespedes Helps Oakland A’s Get First Win of the Season: Fan’s Take

Oakland A’s Sign Manny Ramirez to Bargain Basement Deal: Fan Reaction

Jose Canseco Still Waiting or that Call from Billy Beane

Three Players from the 1989 World Champion Oakland Athletics: Where Are They Now