Reddick perfect in rehab start for Ports

It wasn't exactly Josh Reddick's plan to be perfect in his first rehab appearance Monday, but he certainly won't complain about that.

Oakland outfielder Reddick went a spotless 4-for-4 in his first appearance since being sidelined with a strained right knee as Class A Advanced Stockton thumped San Jose, 11-1, at Banner Island Ballpark.

"Everything felt great," Reddick said. "The thing coming down here wasn't to get four or five hits, but it just worked out that way. Everything was just to be able to test the knee, and that's what happened. Running out a double and getting a few plays in the outfield, everything felt great. To have a good night at the plate was a bonus."

The 2012 Gold Glove Award winner helped spark his club early on the road to earning a split of this four-game series with the Giants. With one out and top Athletics prospect Daniel Robertson aboard in the first inning, Reddick connected on a two-run homer to right field in his first trip to the plate. No. 3 A's prospect Matt Olson followed with a solo shot, and Ryon Healy contributed an RBI single later in the inning.

In the second, Reddick drove a double to left to score Chad Oberacker. After Olson brought home Robertson with an RBI groundout, Reddick scored on Renato Nunez's single to the left side. More importantly than his big night at the plate, Reddick felt confident in the knee that sent him to the disabled list on June 29.

"It was a little sore, nothing too major," he said. "Doing some baseball activities in a baseball game for the first time in two weeks, that's probably something to be expected. I imagine tomorrow, with the day off, I'll give it some time to rest. It'll be a little sore, but I'll come back on Wednesday, take care of my treatment and go back out there and get to that rhythm of playing every day."

After working a walk in the fourth, Reddick singled in the sixth and eighth to close out his perfect night.

"Being confident at the plate is one big key to this game," he said. "I obviously didn't want to come out here and go 0-for-4 with four rollovers. It's a good night for me, a good feeling for me to come out tonight with a great night, get one elevated, shoot the ball the other way a couple times."

Around Reddick, the Ports turned in an impressive offensive showing. Stockton piled up 19 total hits, including six for extra bases, and went 8-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Robertson had four hits to match Reddick's game high.

"It's a blast," Reddick said. "These guys in here are great. The clubhouse atmosphere is fantastic. You feel right at home, like I'm back up top with the big boys. We've heard what Olson can do, even from the big league level. To hit one opposite field just shows the power he has. 'D-Rob,' he comes out here and seems to find a hole every time he swings the bat."

Jake Sanchez (4-0) worked confidently with his early offensive support, allowing one run on eight hits and two walks while striking out eight over six innings.

Reddick will continue his rehab assignment through the Major League All-Star Break with another appearance in the Stockton lineup slated for Wednesday.

"How it bounces back tomorrow is going to be a big step for me," he said. "Then coming in Wednesday, [after] the day off, coming back in here, getting back at it, going back in the outfield and playing DH the next day, I think back-to-back games are going to be a big key for me on how I feel and how I'll feel in the future when I get back with Oakland.

"As long as I can play back-to-back games down here with no problems, I don't see any problem with doing it up there."

San Jose starter Joe Biagini (6-6) struggled through 1 2/3 innings, giving up seven runs on nine hits.