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A's score four in fifth, down Twins

Jul 31, 2011 - 7:19 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Scott Sizemore capped off a four-run fifth inning with a three-run double, as the Oakland Athletics handled the Minnesota Twins, 8-3, in the second test of a three-game series.

Ryan Sweeney, Josh Willingham and Jemile Weeks each knocked in a run for the A's, who bounced back from a 9-5 loss in the opener of this series on Friday.

The Athletics, who had 12 hits, have at least eight hits in 15 straight games, tying the Oakland record for consecutive games with eight-plus hits.

"It's getting contagious and guys are feeling good about it as a group," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

Guillermo Moscoso (4-5) gave up two runs on seven hits over 6 1/3 innings to pick up the win.

Jim Thome, Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young had an RBI apiece for the Twins, who have lost two of three.

Nick Blackburn (7-8) allowed seven runs -- six earned -- on 10 hits over 4 1/3 frames to suffer the loss. He walked five and struck out two. Blackburn fell to 1-6 lifetime against Oakland.

"He's a sinkerballer, and sinkerballers are gonna be that way," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said of Blackburn. "He's going to get groundballs, but they're either going to go at somebody or in holes. We've said that all along. I think, right now, he's not trusting his sinkerball enough, and has been throwing an awful lot of breaking pitches."

The Twins got on the board in the first inning. Ben Revere led off with a single, stole second and scored on Cuddyer's two-out base hit to right.

Oakland got the run right back in the home half. Coco Crisp singled, stole second and moved to third on catcher Joe Mauer's throwing error. Hideki Matsui walked to put men on the corners with one out. Willingham hit a sacrifice fly out to left to tie the game.

Minnesota added another run in the second. Thome doubled to right and crossed the plate on Young's single to center.

The A's promptly responded with two runs in the home second to take the lead. Conor Jackson singled, Cliff Pennington doubled and Sizemore walked to load the bases. A run scored when Landon Powell grounded into a double play. Weeks followed with an RBI triple to center for a 3-2 edge.

Oakland created some distance with a four-run fifth. Matsui singled and Willingham doubled to put on second and third with nobody out. Sweeney followed with a run-scoring infield single. Pennington was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Sizemore chased Blackburn from the game with a three-run double to left for a 7-2 lead.

The home team tacked on another run in the sixth. With the bases loaded and two outs, Crisp scored on a passed ball.

Thome's RBI single in the ninth accounted for the final margin.

Game Notes

Minnesota has won four of its seven matchups with the A's this season...The Athletics placed pitcher Michael Wuertz on the 15-day disabled list Saturday with right thumb tendinitis. Oakland recalled pitcher Jerry Blevins from Triple-A Sacramento to take the roster spot...A's outfielder David DeJesus left with a sore thumb...Jackson went 3-for-4.