Cespedes has power but little to show for it

OAKLAND -- Yoenis Cespedes has been hitting the ball hard but has nothing to show for it. He ended a career-worst 0-for-16 skid last Sunday but was 2-for-15 entering Saturday's game.

"That can be very frustrating," A's manager Bob Melvin said before Saturday's contest against the Royals. "He hit three balls on the nose: one to third base and two to center field. When he's swinging the bat well he's using the whole field, so that's a good sign."

Over the past nine games, Cespedes was hitting .088 (3-for-34) while the A's went 3-6. Yes, A's fans, there is a correlation.

The good news is that Cespedes had not struck out in six straight games, matching his career best from last June.

"He felt good at batting practice and seemed to have a renewed sense of well-being," Melvin said. "His at-bats are getting a lot better."