Athletics' Eric Thames: Positive day at plate in loss

Thames went 2-for-3 with a double and a run in a Cactus League loss to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

The veteran slugger pushed his spring average to .250 (4-for-16) with Tuesday's production. Thames has only struck out in four of his 19 plate appearances and has drawn three walks along the way thus far, an encouraging sign for a player who recorded at least a 30.0 percent strikeout rate in each of his last three seasons. Thames remains in a battle with Billy McKinney and Dalton Kelly for the first base job.