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Athletics rally to startle Twins

Aug 31, 2008 - 6:44 AM By Al Barba PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Joe Nathan threw Ryan Sweeney's bunt past third base, allowing two runs to score in the ninth inning as the Oakland Athletics stunned the Minnesota Twins, 3-2, on Saturday.

With runners on first and second and none out in the inning, Sweeney dropped a bunt to the third base side of the mound that Nathan fielded and threw wildly, allowing Bobby Crosby and Emil Brown to score.

"I thought it was going to be close. I was trying to get (to third) as soon as I could," said Crosby, who was on second before the bunt. "If I was going to be out, I was going to try to take out the third baseman so he couldn't throw to first. I looked up and knew the third baseman wasn't going to get to (the ball), and when I crossed home, I looked up and was hoping (Brown) was coming."



"If the third base coach doesn't stop you, you keep going," said Brown, who scored from first on the play. "It wasn't a bad bunt, and Bobby can run a little bit. It would have taken a perfect throw in the perfect spot to get him. I was kind of shocked by it."

The loss prevented Minnesota (76-60) from taking over first place in the American League Central. The Chicago White Sox (76-59) remain one-half game ahead of the Twins despite falling to the Boston Red Sox.

Crosby started the winning rally with a single to left field. Brown was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and second.

"(Nathan) threw me a couple good pitches, but he spiked me a slider," Crosby said. "He's normally pretty tough. I couldn't really say he didn't have his stuff."

Huston Street (5-5) pitched two scoreless innings to record the win, while Nathan (0-1) suffered the loss. It marked the fifth blown save of the season for Nathan, who suffered a defeat for the first time since July 19, 2007 against Detroit.

Francisco Liriano and Dallas Braden were locked in a pitchers' duel, with the only runs each starter allowed coming on home runs.

The Twins took a 2-0 lead on a two-run blast by Denard Span in the fifth, and the Athletics got back a run in the bottom half on a leadoff blast by Jack Cust, his 25th.

Liriano matched a season high for innings pitched, going seven innings while allowing a run and five hits with six strikeouts. The lefthander allowed only two runners to reach second base.

"I was throwing my first pitch for a strike and they were swinging," Liriano said. "I felt pretty good. The key is throwing first-pitch strikes and make them swing. I wasn't looking to strike them out."

Braden exited after throwing 100 pitches. He yielded two runs and seven hits with two walks and two strikeouts.