Worth noting

• A's outfielder Chris Young, who hasn't played in a game since sustaining a right quad cramp Sunday, came out of running drills well Wednesday and was scheduled to do more Thursday morning. The team was then expected to determine his status for Friday's home game against the Giants.

• After being scratched from Wednesday's contest, outfielder Coco Crisp picked up just one at-bat (from the left side) in Thursday's game before departing in favor of a pinch-hitter. The reason? He is dealing with a minor neck issue that bothers him when he bats right-handed.

• Shortstop Hiroyuki Nakajima got a hit off Cubs right-hander and friend Kyuji Fujikawa in Thursday's game. Nakajima said through his translator that he faced Fujikawa only a handful of times when the two were still playing in Japan.

The Japanese infielder was also asked about the error he was charged with on a dropped ball while he attempted a handoff from second baseman Scott Sizemore in the fourth inning. Nakajima said he believed Sizemore was going to throw the ball to first rather than attempt a double play, with the runner already closing in on second base, "so it was a little miscommunication."