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Cespedes, A's top Twins in series opener

Apr 8, 2014 - 2:36 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Brandon Moss and Yoenis Cespedes each drove in two runs, as the Oakland Athletics spoiled the Minnesota Twins' home opener with an 8-3 triumph on Monday at Target Field.

Derek Norris slugged a solo home run, while Alberto Callaspo and Josh Reddick registered an RBI apiece for the A's, who took two-of-three from Seattle over the weekend before opening this three-game set with their second straight win.

Scott Kazmir (2-0) made the start for Oakland and allowed just three runs on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts over six innings to pick up the victory.

"I wasn't as sharp as I would like to be to say the least," said Kazmir. "It wasn't very pretty out there, but I got to the third inning and tried to get as many quick outs as I could to get as deep as I possibly could."

Minnesota starter Kevin Correia (0-1) was knocked around for six runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 frames to absorb the loss. Jason Kubel, Kurt Suzuki and Aaron Hicks each had an RBI for the Twins, who went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men on base.

"I plan on this staff to be able to throw quite a number of innings so we can take some pressure off the bullpen," Correia said.

The A's pounced on Correia in the second, as Moss worked a leadoff walk before coming around to score when Cespedes followed with a double to left. After Callaspo singled, Reddick ripped a base hit to right, scoring Cespedes from third for a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota responded in the home half on Hicks' run-scoring double to center, but the A's answered with three runs in the third to create some separation.

Jed Lowrie worked a one-out walk and Josh Donaldson doubled to put men on second and third for Moss, who scorched a single to right to plate Lowrie and Donaldson.

After Cespedes flied out to center, Callaspo clubbed a double to right, allowing Moss to score from first for a 5-1 lead.

The Twins got two runs back in the bottom of the frame. Trevor Plouffe stroked a leadoff single and Chris Colabello walked before Kubel followed two batters later with a double to right to plate Plouffe. Following a brief meeting at the mound, Suzuki scored Colabello with a groundout to second baseman Eric Sogard, bringing the Twins within 5-3.

Kazmir settled in from there, retiring the Twins in order in the fourth and working around a two-out walk in the fifth before Norris smashed a solo shot to left-center with two outs in the sixth to make it 6-3.

Oakland added two more runs in the seventh when Nick Punto, who entered as a pinch-runner for an injured Lowrie, scored on a Samuel Deduno balk before Cespedes' sacrifice fly two batters later made it 8-3.

Fernando Abad, Dan Otero and Ryan Cook each spun a scoreless inning in relief of Kazmir to close out the victory.

Game Notes

Lowrie left the game with a right lower leg contusion after being hit by a pitch in the seventh inning ... Minnesota fell to 30-24 in home openers, including 2-3 at Target Field ... Oakland has won seven straight games against Minnesota ... Oakland's starting pitching has allowed three runs or fewer in each of the first seven games of the season ... Cook was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game, while pitcher Evan Scribner was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento ... During the game the Twins acquired infielder Eduardo Nunez from the New York Yankees in exchange for minor league pitcher Miguel Sulbaran.