This story was excerpted from Martín Gallegos’ A’s Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

That was the message conveyed to sophomore star Jackson Chourio in the wake of the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-2 opening-day loss to the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon.

“They’re trying their ass off, maybe too hard,” Reds manager Terry Francona said after the Reds opened a four-game series against the Brewers in Milwaukee with a record third consecutive 1-0 ...