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Athletics: Top Five Plays of the 2019 Season

By Zachary Engberg

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of the American League Wild Card Game at RingCentral Coliseum on October 02, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 02: Sean Manaea #55 of the Oakland Athletics throws a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning of the American League Wild Card Game at RingCentral Coliseum on October 02, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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2. Matt Chapman two-run home run, September 25 vs Angels

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 25: Matt Chapman #26 of the Oakland Athletics is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the eighth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium of Anaheim on September 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

In 2018, every time the A’s needed him, Khris Davis stepped up and bailed them out. With Davis struggling through most of 2019, the rest of the lineup stepped up, from Matt Olson to Ramon Laureano to Mark Canha to Marcus Semien. But no player had a bigger hit in 2019 than Matt Chapman against the LA Angels on September 25.

Despite taking off after the All-Star break and virtually establishing a spot in the Wild Card Game, the A’s were still scuffling at the close of the regular season with the Rays and Cleveland Indians breathing down their necks. And down 2-1 in the top of the ninth, they were in danger of losing their third in a row and dropping a half-game behind the Rays.

But once again, like in mid-June, Chapman delivered a two-run shot that gave us the best Glen Kuiper call of the season and kept the A’s in the driver’s seat for AL Wild Card.

(Video via NBC Sports Bay Area)

Hopefully only the first of many huge September hits for the All-Star third baseman.