Final
Josh Reddick hits grand slam, Athletics slug past Twins 14-1
Jul 20, 2015 - 12:15 AM OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Jake Smolinski has made a big impression with his bat in less than 24 hours of his first home games for Oakland.Smolinski homered twice for four RBIs a day after driving in the tying run in the ninth as a pinch hitter, Josh Reddick hit a grand slam and the Oakland Athletics slugged past the Minnesota Twins 14-1 on Sunday.
''It was a good day for everybody. Pitchers pitched great, hitters hit great. It was just a fun win,'' Smolinski said. ''The team made me feel like I was a part since Day 1. Obviously everybody wants to help contribute and I'm just trying to do my part right now and hopefully we'll get it rolling.''
Just about everybody got involved in this rare rout to support hard-luck starter Jesse Chavez.
Billy Butler and Josh Phegley hit two-run homers for the A's, who cleared the fences a season-high five times to boost their 2015 total to 80.
Smolinski hit a three-run homer in the eighth and an earlier solo shot for his first career multihomer game. The outfielder was promoted from Triple-A on July 7.
Chavez (5-9) struck out nine in six innings for his second highest total of the year. He snapped a three-start losing streak with his first victory since June 23 at Texas, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the fourth.
''It was awesome watching the guys hit,'' Chavez said. ''I felt refreshed. I felt awkward out there for just a couple innings, but after that it felt normal again. It was fun to get back out there after the long break.''
Smolinski followed Butler's third-inning home run with a solo drive off Tommy Milone (5-2) for his first clout with the A's. Reddick hit his third career grand slam in the fifth against J.R. Graham.
Now, the A's want to string some series wins together. The power hitting sure helps.
''We've been in spurts,'' manager Bob Melvin said. ''You see the potential, it's just not as consistent as we'd like to this point.''
Milone hadn't allowed a home run in five starts since Elvis Andrus connected in the seventh inning June 12 at Texas. The left-hander surrendered three facing his former team for the first time since the A's traded him at last year's July 31 deadline for outfielder Sam Fuld.
Milone's afternoon was done - he had been 3-0 in five day starts this year - when Brett Lawrie followed Smolinski's full-count homer with a single. Phegley and Ben Zobrist added RBI doubles in the inning.
''These days are rare, just enjoy them,'' Butler said.
Milone saw the end of his streak of four straight winning decisions over a six-start span with his shortest outing of the season at 2 2/3 innings. He yielded a season-high seven runs and matched his most with five earned runs.
In the second, Lawrie reached on a two-out throwing error by shortstop Danny Santana and Phegley followed with a drive to left for his sixth home run. The backup catcher has five homers and 14 RBIs over his last 17 games.
Another mistake led to Butler's ninth home run. Milone plunked Mark Canha with two outs to bring up Zobrist.
Reddick had his first grand slam since May 16 last year at Cleveland.
Shane Robinson hit an RBI triple in the ninth as Minnesota lost for only the third time in 10 games having outscored opponents 50-27 in the previous nine.
''We got whiffed pretty good,'' manager Paul Molitor said.
MELVIN'S MARK
Melvin won his 386th game managing the A's, tying him with Ken Macha for third most in Oakland history behind Tony La Russa (798) and Art Howe (600).
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: DH Miguel Sano sat out with a sprained right ankle he played through Saturday night. He was injured during pregame warmups when he stepped on a ball. It became sore as the game went on and Sano had a hard time planting on that foot, then needed crutches to get to the hotel Saturday night and again Sunday. Molitor said Sano would be re-evaluated but he is hopeful it will be only three to five days.
Athletics: Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte, out since June 11 with a strained right shoulder, will throw batting practice Monday at Class-A Stockton - 15 pitches with each arm. ... RHP Taylor Thompson (strained right shoulder) will throw one inning for Stockton on Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Twins: Off day Monday. RHP Kyle Gibson (8-6) pitches Tuesday against the Angels in Anaheim.
Athletics: Off day Monday. RHP Kendall Graveman pitches the series opener against Mark Buehrle (10-5) and the Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
- MINNESOTA: 1
OAKLAND: 14
Final
Jul 19 6:56 PM - Shane Robinson triples to deep center field. Trevor Plouffe scores.
Twins 1, Athletics 14 Top 9, 1 OutJul 19 6:52 PM - Smolinski homered to left on a 0-0 count, Burns scored, B.Butler scored.
Twins 0, Athletics 14 Bot 8, 2 OutsJul 19 6:41 PM - Jake Smolinski homers to left field. Billy Butler scores. Billy Burns scores.
Twins 0, Athletics 14 Bot 8, 2 OutsJul 19 6:40 PM - Reddick homered to center on a 0-0 count, B.Butler scored, Smolinski scored, Phegley scored.
Twins 0, Athletics 11 Bot 5, 1 OutJul 19 5:48 PM - Josh Reddick homers to center field. Josh Phegley scores. Jake Smolinski scores. Billy Butler scores.
Twins 0, Athletics 11 Bot 5, 1 OutJul 19 5:48 PM - Josh Phegley doubles to left field. Brett Lawrie scores.
Twins 0, Athletics 7 Bot 3, 2 OutsJul 19 5:07 PM - B.Butler homered to center on a 1-1 count, Zobrist scored.
Twins 0, Athletics 5 Bot 3, 2 OutsJul 19 4:55 PM - Billy Butler homers to center field. Ben Zobrist scores.
Twins 0, Athletics 5 Bot 3, 2 OutsJul 19 4:55 PM - Ben Zobrist doubles to deep left field. Mark Canha scores.
Twins 0, Athletics 3 Bot 3, 2 OutsJul 19 4:54 PM - Phegley homered to left on a 1-1 count, Lawrie scored.
Twins 0, Athletics 2 Bot 2, 2 OutsJul 19 4:39 PM - Josh Phegley homers to left field. Brett Lawrie scores.
Twins 0, Athletics 2 Bot 2, 2 OutsJul 19 4:39 PM
Jul 19 4:09 PM- MINNESOTA: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Jul 19 4:07 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Greatest Minnesota Twins: The Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 9) Dec 26
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- The season of perpetual hope (Pt. 3 of 3): Jim Eisenreich Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- Rival Roundup, Vol. 47: Home for the Holidays Dec 23
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: JJ Bleday Dec 21
- Elephant Rumblings: Replies off, talk to the hand Dec 21