MESA, Ariz. — A’s manager Bob Melvin was back with the team Sunday morning, two days after departing Arizona to return home just prior to the death of his mother, Judy.
Bench coach Mark Kotsay ran the team in Melvin’s place and guided them to a pair of victories — including an exhibition with Italy’s WBC team, the A’s have now won six in a row — and Melvin praised the work done in his absence.
“Our staff did an unbelievable job, in particular Mark Kotsay,” Melvin said, “so it’s easy to be able to leave and know that everything’s going to be taken care of beautifully and it was.