Athletics 4 - 5 Twins
Final
  for this game

Twins rally in the 8th to beat A's

May 28, 2012 - 10:22 PM

Video

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Ryan Doumit drove in the winning run as the Minnesota Twins edged the Oakland Athletics, 5-4, in the opener of a three- game series.

Justin Morneau drove in a pair of runs, while Joe Mauer had two hits and two runs scored for the Twins, who snapped a five-game losing streak.

Scott Diamond gave up three runs on nine hits with a walk and four strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings for Minnesota. Alex Burnett (2-0) got the final two outs of the eighth to grab the win.

"I showed up ready and willing to play," said Diamond. "It was a good day out there to play baseball and I was just glad I was able to help us in getting a win."

Colin Cowgill had three hits, while Josh Reddick hit a solo homer and a triple and scored twice for the Athletics, who have lost their past six games.

Travis Blackley pitched just five innings in the start and gave up a run on three hits. Ryan Cook (1-1) was tagged with the loss for giving up two runs in the eighth.

The Twins were trailing by a run in the eighth, but Mauer singled with one out, stole second and, after Josh Willingham walked, came home when Morneau blooped a double to shallow left that just stayed fair. Doumit followed with a sac fly for a 5-4 lead.

Matt Capps came on in the ninth to close the game and got in trouble as the A's loaded the bases with two outs, but he struck out Jonny Gomes on three pitches to pick up his 10th save of the season.

Reddick hit a solo home run in the first and Kila Ka'aihue did the same in the second to give the A's a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota got on the board in the fifth when Trevor Plouffe hit a solo home run, but the A's got it back in the sixth when Brandon Inge drove in a run on a double-play groundout.

Willingham hit an RBI double in the sixth and Morneau followed with a sac fly to tie the game.

The A's took the lead back in the eighth as Gomes and Inge drew consecutive walks and Kurt Suzuki followed with a single for a 4-3 lead.

"We put out a good effort today," said Inge. "You know, we got guys in position and we were able to get some of them home, just not all of them. We were one swing away from winning the game today."

Game Notes

Blackley, who was claimed off waivers from San Francisco on May 15, made his first start since Sept. 29, 2007. He made three relief appearances for the A's prior to Monday...Each team won four times in the series last season...Oakland left nine men on base and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position...Inge had been activated off the 15-day disabled list prior to the game as he was suffering from a groin injury. The team optioned catcher Anthony Recker to Triple-A Sacramento to make room on the roster.






Related News