Oakland Athletics’ Lawrence Butler breaks franchise record with last-base hit

Though his record-breaking batting performance led directly to a devastating loss, Oakland Athletics right fielder Lawrence Butler remained in great form nonetheless.

Butler was in position to lead off Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Mariners and caught the first pitch he saw from All-Star right-hander George Kirby. It turned into a double down the opposite field line for Butler, who came around and scored on an RBI single by Brent Rooker.

The double made it nine straight games for Butler, who has recorded at least one extra-base hit, the longest such streak in A’s history, according to Sarah Langs of MLB.com.

However, the Mariners took a 2-1 lead in the very next inning and never looked back. The Athletics lost 16-3.

Butler was 1-for-3 when pinch-hit in the bottom of the seventh. He now has a .266 average with 21 home runs, 54 RBI, 15 stolen bases, an .847 OPS and 2.4 WAR on the season.

But since July 1, Butler has hit .323 with 19 home runs, 46 RBI, nine stolen bases and a 1.061 OPS. That was capped by a nine-game stretch of off-base hitting during which the 24-year-old hit .436 with seven home runs, five doubles, two stolen bases and a 1.533 OPS.

Only Aaron Judge has more home runs than Butler since July 1 — Rooker is just behind them in sixth place for third. Much of that damage came from Butler’s pair of three-homer games on July 14 and Aug. 29, respectively.

With this historic show of strength, the Athletics now have the second-best record in the American League since July 1, 31-23. That won’t be enough to advance to the postseason — Oakland remains 14.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with less than four weeks to go — but it could provide solid momentum heading into 2025.

Butler and the A’s plan to close out the series with the Mariners on Thursday at 3:37 p.m. ET.

Continue to follow our Fastball On SI coverage on social media, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also follow Sam Connon on Twitter @SamConnon.