Worth noting

• Coco Crisp entered Wednesday having compiled four hits in his last 12 at-bats, after tallying just 15 in his previous 90 at-bats (.167).

"When we're playing our best baseball," Melvin said, "he's playing his best baseball. I don't want to put that kind of pressure on one guy, but he's the engine that gets us going."

• The A's loss on Tuesday night was their first when leading after eight innings since Aug. 4, 2012. Oakland is 49-1 when leading after eight frames this season, as well as 44-2 when leading after seven.