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Twins hope for some more home cooking when they resume set with A's

Apr 9, 2011 - 2:32 PM (Sports Network) - Gio Gonzalez tries to follow up a terrific season debut this evening when the Oakland Athletics play the middle test of their three- game series against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.

Gonzalez was brilliant in beating the Seattle Mariners on Sunday, as he held them to a run and six hits in seven innings. He also struck out four and walked just as many.

The 25-year-old lefty has faced the Twins four times in his young career and is 1-2 with a 10.61 ERA.

Gonzalez will be trying to help the A's bounce back from a heartbreaking loss in Friday's opener, as Joe Mauer capped a two-run eighth inning with an RBI single and Carl Pavano pitched eight frames of one-run ball, helping Minnesota to a 2-1 victory in their home opener.

Brett Anderson held Minnesota scoreless through seven innings, but that changed in the eighth. Danny Valencia reached base on an infield single, and pinch-hitter Jason Kubel stepped to the plate with two outs. His single to right put men on the corners. Denard Span tied the game with a sharp RBI single to right. Mauer then drove in the go-ahead run with a single down the left field line to score pinch runner Matt Tolbert.

Joe Nathan, in his first-ever appearance at Target Field, worked around a one- out single in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season. Nathan, of course, missed all of last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Minnesota had led the American League last season with 53 home wins.

"It was definitely a big win," Span said. "Our bats have been kind of slow in the early part of the season. It's good to come back home and give the fans something to cheer about."

Pavano (1-1) bounced back from a rough Opening Day effort, giving up one run on four hits. The right-hander was pounded by the Blue Jays for seven runs over four-plus innings last Friday.

Anderson (0-1) gave up eight hits and struck out five batters for the A's, who are off to a 2-5 start.

"I thought Brett threw the ball very well," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "Bad luck as far as placement of three ground balls. You don't see three ground balls going through very often."

Minnesota, meanwhile, will hand the ball tonight to right-hander Nick Blackburn, who was impressive in his season debut. Blackburn held the Toronto Blue Jays to an earned run and six hits in 5 2/3 innings to get the win.

Blackburn, though, is 0-4 lifetime against the A's with a 6.64 ERA in seven starts.

Minnesota won six of its nine games with the A's last season.