OAKLAND -- With a scorching homer to lead off the second inning, Khris Davis reached the 40-homer mark for the second consecutive season as the A's topped the Rangers on Saturday night, 1-0.
Davis went to right-center on the first pitch he saw from Rangers starter Miguel González for the milestone homer. According to Statcast™, the homer traveled 425 feet with a 108.5 mph exit velocity.
"It's pretty amazing," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We were talking a little bit about it today and he says, 'I'm stuck on 39.' And I said, 'Well, you had well over 40 last year, so it doesn't matter. No pressure.' Then he hits the first ball out to right-center like nobody else can and we've seen him do many times."
Davis is the fourth player in the big leagues to hit 40 homers this season. After hitting 42 last season, he's currently the only player in the Majors to have hit 40 or more homers in each of the last two seasons.
It also makes Davis the first player to hit 40 homers in back-to-back seasons since the team moved to Oakland. The only other player in franchise history to have consecutive seasons of 40 or more homers was Jimmie Foxx, who did so from 1932-1934 when the team still played in Philadelphia.
"It's nice to be mentioned in the presence of Hall of Famers," Davis said. "I'm just enjoying it and embracing as much as I can."
The 82 homers for Davis in 2016 and 2017 combined trail only Giancarlo Stanton (83) of the Marlins for most in all of baseball.
"Nice little feather in his cap, to do 40 again," Melvin said. "He's one of the premier power hitters in the league."