Athletics Split Series In Minnesota
Jul 21, 2019, 3:26 PM | Updated: 3:38 pm
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
(Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
After winning eight of their last nine games, Oakland takes two of four from Minnesota
Fresh off of a six-game winning streak, the Oakland Athletics split a four-game series over the weekend against the Minnesota Twins.
Daniel Mengden had a rough outing on Sunday afternoon, allowing four runs and walking five batters in 3.1 innings of work. Minnesota centerfielder Max Kepler hit a three-run home run off Mengden in the second inning to give the Twins a 4-0 advantage. The A’s would battle back, scoring two runs in the fifth inning on a Josh Phegley home run, and two more runs over the sixth and seventh innings to get back in the game.
After Marcus Semien scored on a wild pitch in the seventh inning to cut the deficit to 5-4, Chris Herrmann doubled in Robbie Grossman to tie things up at 5-5. Shortly after, Phegley would deliver once again, scoring Franklin Barreto on a sacrifice fly to give the A’s their first lead.
That lead was short-lived however, as Liam Hendriks would give up three hits in the bottom of the ninth. After a triple from Ehire Adrianza tied the game at 6-6, Max Kepler drove his fourth run of the game in on a walk-off single to give the Twins a 7-6 win.
Matt Chapman picked up two hits in the loss, while Josh Phegley drove in three runs — including his 10th home run of the season.
Oakland has homered in every one of their last 21 contests.
The Athletics will look to gain on the first-place Houston Astros when they head to Minute Maid Park in Houston on Monday night.
Game 3: Saturday, July 20 – A’s 5, Twins 4
Trailing 4-3 with two outs in the ninth inning, Oakland would not go quietly.
After Mark Canha was hit by a pitch from Twins closer Taylor Rogers, Ramon Laureano drilled a double to left to give Khris Davis a chance to tie or take the lead. Khrush delivered, smacking a two-RBI single in the second base hole as the A’s would go on to win by a final of 5-4 in Minnesota.
Laureano continued to rake at the plate, going three-for-five including his 20th home run of the season, elevating his batting average to .287 on the year. Since June 30, the 25 year-old centerfielder is hitting .463 with seven home runs and 15 RBI.
Mark Canha hit his 16th home run of the year, one short of his career-high 17 long-balls that he hit last season.
Brett Anderson gave up three runs over six innings of work while striking out two batters, and the A’s bullpen locked down the Twins offense in the later innings. All-Star Liam Hendriks picked up the save, his eighth of the season.
Game 2: Friday, July 19 – A’s 5, Twins 3
Khris Davis delivered a go-ahead single in the sixth inning and the Oakland Athletics never looked back, winning 5-3 on Friday night.
Oakland starter Chris Bassitt claimed his seventh victory of the season after pitching five innings of two-run ball. The A’s bullpen pitched four shutout innings, sealed off by Liam Hendriks’ seventh save of the season. On the offensive attack, Marcus Semien went three-for-five while hitting his 15th home run of the year, equaling his total from last season.
Matt Olson, Khris Davis, and Ramon Laureano all had two hits in the winning effort on Friday evening.
Game 1: Thursday, July 18 – Twins 6, A’s 3
Coming into the game with a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning, Yusmeiro Petit surrendered a three-run home run to Twins slugger Eddie Rosario as the Twins would go on to defeat the A’s 6-3.
Mike Fiers gave up three runs in 6.1 innings of work while striking out four, while Ramon Laureano picked up three hits in the losing effort.
