Bob Melvin had just burned through his bullpen to win a nip-and-tuck shootout against Kansas City on Thursday, and the Oakland A's manager leaned back in his chair and asked ruefully: "How many relievers did the Yankees use today?" He was joking, of course. Melvin knew full well that New York had the day off before the two AL playoff contenders open a weekend series at Yankee Stadium on Friday night. Melvin probably wouldn't have been joking had the A's lost to the lowly Royals. "We had to have this game," he said after the 9-8 victory at Kauffman Stadium. "When you go through your entire bullpen and then go to Yankee Stadium -- we had to win that game." read more https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap?gameId=401076736
