The A's have looked like a very different team the second half of the season, and have been one of the best teams in baseball the month of August.

Soderstrom reached base in all five of his plate appearances Thursday, though he didn't record an RBI. The 23-year-old has delivered exactly the kind of third-year breakout the Athletics were hoping for,

Royce Lewis, batting just .199 at Target Field, .175 in August, and .136 during this homestand, was robbed of a potential extra-base hit by A’s left-fielder Tyler Soderstrom in the sixth inning Thursday, and took it out on his headwear when he reached the dugout, pounding it several times against the bat rack in frustration.

Five A’s hitters will finish the season with 20 or more home runs according to most projections per Fangraphs, and four have already exceeded the mark. Three of these mashers are running neck, neck, and neck to finish with the highest season total. Let’s take a look at the current state of the A’s home run race, shall we?

The Houston Astros were in first place in the American League West with a .543 winning percentage going into their game Thursday night in Baltimore. The A’s enter the Seattle series 9 1/2 games back of the Wild Card spot, with six other teams between them and the Mariners.

Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning and the Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Wednesday night.

As the season got underway, Soderstrom immediately started to exhibit his power. His hot start and ability to hit the long ball put him atop the leaderboard for home runs, taking the MLB lead with eight total by April 15th.

Athletics second. Tyler Soderstrom doubles to center field. Lawrence Butler grounds out to second base, Luke Keaschall to Kody Clemens. Tyler Soderstrom to third. Darell Hernaiz out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to Byron Buxton. Tyler Soderstrom ...