Lasry envisions building a championship-contending

OAKLAND, Calif. -- With the bat and with his arm, Yoenis Cespedes put on the best all-around performance of his career in front of a rare sellout crowd at the Oakland Coliseum. Cespedes finished a single shy of the cycle and threw out two runners at the plate, powering the Athletics past the Los Angeles Angels 11-3 on Saturday night in front of 35,067 fans. "I got a lot of motivation when I see the field like that," Cespedes said through an interpreter in Spanish. "The stands are full, the same thing when we were in the playoffs. It was sold out and they made me feel like a stronger mind and gave me a lot of motivation." In front of just the fourth sellout crowd of the season in Oakland, Cespedes gave quite a show. The reigning Home Run Derby champion doubled in the fourth, hit a triple in the seventh that scored the go-ahead runs and added a three-run homer in the eighth. He matched a career high with five RBIs to help the two-time defending AL West champions stretch their lead to 3 1/2 games over the Angels in the division. "No doubt about it," As manager Bob Melvin said when asked if Cespedes feeds off the roaring home crowds. "He just becomes a different player." Collin Cowgills three-run homer off Tommy Milone in the fourth accounted for all of the Angels runs. The As tagged Tyler Skaggs (4-3) with four runs and five hits in six-plus innings. Fernando Rodriguez (1-0) tossed one scoreless inning for the win. Milone allowed nine hits in six innings, striking out three and walking one. He laboured most of the way -- including escaping a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the first -- but got a big boost from his strong-armed, green glove-wearing left fielder on nearly identical plays in the second inning. Cespedes charged in and heaved a one-hop strike to catcher Derek Norris to nab Chris Iannetta and Kole Calhoun after line-drive singles. The throws sent fans roaring to their feet each time, and Cespedes received high-fives and head-pats from teammates and coaches in the dugout. "He had a career night. Im lucky that it was today," Milone said. Crew chief Fieldin Culbreth upheld the first call after a 2-minute, 30-second review to see if Norris illegally blocked the plate under the new collision rule. Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Iannetta didnt have a lane to slid and the rule needs to be more clearly defined. There was no review or challenge on the second play to get Calhoun. "Knew it was going to be bang-bang and hes got a great arm," Calhoun said. "I thought I had a good jump. I thought itd be closer than what it was, but that was a great play by him." Cespedes came back big time with the bat. He doubled with one out in the fourth for Oaklands first hit, and Norris drove in a run on a flyout for Oaklands first run. After Kyle Blanks solo homer and Josh Donaldsons RBI groundout tied the score in the seventh, Cespedes drive off reliever Joe Smith landed just over Calhouns glove in right to score the go-ahead runs. Cespedes later lined a three-run shot in Jarrett Grubes major league debut in the eighth. It was Cespedes 10th home run this season. He also had five RBIs at Cleveland on May 18. NOTES: The As honoured the 1974 World Series championship team before the game. Three World Series MVPs -- Gene Tenace (72), Reggie Jackson (73) and Rollie Fingers (74) -- threw out ceremonial first pitches. ... Angels All-Star CF Mike Trout was scratched from the lineup because of upper back stiffness. He was initially the designated hitter. ... As RF Josh Reddick was replaced by pinch-hitter Coco Crisp after hyperextending his knee catching a fly at the wall in the seventh. He is day to day. ... Oakland 1B Brandon Moss was not in the lineup. He will likely sit out again Sunday to give his nagging right calf additional rest. ... The Angels designated LHP Wade LeBlanc for assignment and called up Grube from Triple-A Salt Lake. ... Angels ace Jered Weaver (6-3, 2.99 ERA) starts against Oaklands Sonny Gray (5-1, 2.31) in Sundays series finale. Zach Davies Brewers Jersey . "I knew it was gone. I mean, I felt it," the 2012 NL Rookie of the Year said. "I havent felt like that in a while. I havent got extension on a ball in a pretty long time. Mike Moustakas Jersey . Chan captured two silver medals at last months Sochi Winter Games — mens singles and the inaugural team event. But he doesnt have the urge to resume training to defend his world title when the event is held in Saitama, Japan, later this month. https://www.cheapbrewers.com/1249y-taylor-williams-jersey-brewers.html . Toronto ended an 0-4-0 skid with Sundays shootout win over visiting New Jersey, but the club could have a difficult time making it two victories in a row tonight. The Maple Leafs have dropped three straight and 11 of the last 12 regular- season meetings against Boston overall and the Bruins have claimed six straight in Beantown. Lorenzo Cain Jersey . -- Packers cornerback Tramon Williams has been fined $26,250 for contact with an official, per NFL guidelines. Bobby Wahl Brewers Jersey . "Thank you for the warm welcome," Beckham said on an 80-degree February morning. In this case, it was soccer weather. The sport moved a step closer to returning to South Florida on Wednesday, when Beckham confirmed he has exercised his option to purchase a Major League Soccer expansion franchise in Miami.MILWAUKEE - The decision has apparently become a little easier for the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA draft. New team co-owner Marc Lasry indicated Monday that it is down to either Dukes Jabari Parker or Kansas Andrew Wiggins when the Bucks make the second overall selection in the draft Thursday night. Foot surgery for centre prospect Joel Embiid last week seems to have knocked Wiggins teammate with the Jayhawks out of the Bucks plans. With new ownership taking over a franchise that had a league-worst 15-67 record, Milwaukee is looking for immediate help. "I think its hard to take Embiid," Lasry said Monday at a joint breakfast meeting of the regions Rotary Club and the Milwaukee Press Club. "I think hes a phenomenal individual, but with the injury and not knowing how severe or long it will take to recover, I think for us today were going to want somebody whos going to help us on Day One." New York investment firm executives Lasry and Wesley Edens bought the Bucks this spring for $550 million from former U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl. According to Lasry, Edens watched Wiggins work out recently. If they need a reference on Parker, the Bucks can just go across town to talk with new Marquette coach Steve Wojciechowski, who worked with Parker when he was a Blue Devils assistant. "A lot is going to be dependent on what Cleveland does," Lasry said. "But I would tell you right now its probbably either going to be .dddddddddddd.. one of the other." This will be a pivotal pick for a franchise in transition. Lasry envisions building a championship-contending team within five years. At the same time, the new ownership group could also be seeking public financing to help build a new arena to replace the BMO Harris Bradley Center, though its unclear yet how much funding they might seek. The new owners have estimated that it could take $350-$400 million for a new arena. Lasry and Edens have committed $100 million, and Kohl has committed another $100 million. Lasry said Monday he hoped to find other people to help come up with the difference and would welcome public support. New potential minority investors in the Bucks could also be announced by July 15. Lasry said he hoped to add local partners. Lasry spoke of building a foundation of young players over the next two or three seasons that would help attract free agents. Among the more promising current young Bucks are guards Brandon Knight (17.9 points) and Giannis Antetokounmpo (6.8 points), and power forward John Henson (11.1 points, 7.1 rebounds). "Nobodys coming to Milwaukee if the team does what it did last year," said Lasry, who added that the payroll would increase. Lasry also said that the team would soon announce the hiring of a chief financial officer, and would be hiring a team president. ' ' '