Maxwell Kneels, Davis Belts 40th As A's Top Texas, 1-0
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Bruce Maxwell became the first major league baseball player to kneel during the national anthem, and then Khris Davis hit his 40th home run to lift the Oakland Athletics over the Texas Rangers 1-0 on Saturday night.
Maxwell dropped to a knee and pressed his cap against his chest just outside Oakland's dugout during the anthem, adopting a protest started by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in response to police treatment of blacks. Maxwell's teammates stood in a line next to him. Teammate Mark Canha, who is white, put his right hand on one of Maxwell's shoulders.
The Athletics released a statement on Twitter shortly after the anthem, saying they "respect and support all of our players' constitutional rights and freedom of expression" and "pride ourselves on being inclusive."
Davis became the first A's player to hit 40 home runs in consecutive seasons since Jimmy Foxx (1932-34). He's the fourth player in franchise history with multiple 40-homer seasons. Foxx (3), Mark McGwire (3) and Jose Canseco (2) are the others.
Davis homered against Miguel Gonzalez (8-12) leading off the second inning as the A's won their season-high sixth straight game.
Raul Alcantara (1-1) threw five shutout innings of two-hit ball in which he struck out five and allowed two walks.
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