A’s heed veterans’ advice with offensive outburst

OAKLAND — Khris Davis said the A’s held a players-only meeting before Friday’s game against the Tigers to determine what their identity would be for the rest of the year. They didn’t see the results that night, but, as he pointed out, “sometimes results take time.”

Luckily for Oakland, it didn’t take too much time.

Oakland’s offense broke out Saturday in a 12-3 win over Detroit, setting a season-high in runs, hits (17) and margin of victory. Davis smashed a three-run home run in the seventh, Billy Butler hit his first homer of the year and had the go-ahead two-run single in the sixth, and Danny Valencia launched a 457-foot home run to center. It was a total team effort, one the A’s, who were averaging 2.9 runs per game and hit .179 over their previous eight games, desperately needed.

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“The veterans talked to us a little bit and reminded us that we should believe in ourselves,” Davis said. “And to just know the guys are going to get the job done.”

Davis said veterans ranging from Rich Hill to Ryan Madson to Coco Crisp took turns addressing the team in the meeting. And Saturday it was another veteran, Butler, who heeded the message, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He put …

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