Final
A's turn to Parker in opener against Twins
Sep 10, 2013 - 2:51 PM (Sports Network) - Jarrod Parker tries to extend his career-best winning streak to 10 games on Tuesday when the Oakland Athletics begin a three-game series with the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.Parker hasn't lost since May 22 and is 9-0 with a 2.59 ERA over his last 18 starts. The right-hander outdueled Texas' Yu Darvish his last time out, as he surrendered two runs and five hits in six innings to improve to 11-6, while lowering his ERA to 3.57.
"I saw that last year," Brandon Moss said of Parker's success. "Down the stretch, there was nobody that pitched better than him. Start-in, start-out, you knew what you were going to get. He was going to throw strikes, he wasn't going to walk people, he was going to put the ball in play, and I think that's what was more surprising early in the year, those struggles he was having. Because that's not him. Once he got comfortable, he's been the same guy. That's who he is. He is an ace."
Oakland continued to roll this weekend, as it took the final three games in its four-game set with the lowly Houston Astros. The A's have won eight of 10 overall and now sit two games in front of the Texas Rangers in the AL West.
Minnesota, meanwhile, also enters on a bit of a high note after winning a makeup game with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Monday, as Trevor Plouffe drove in three runs in the 6-3 triumph. Josmil Pinto went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while crossing the plate twice and helping the Twins snap a four-game skid.
"We missed a lot of opportunities, but we came up with some big ones at the end," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said.
On Tuesday the Twins will rely on righty Liam Hendriks, who is 1-2 on the year with a 5.28 ERA. Hendriks did not get a decision, was awful on Wednesday in Houston, as the Astros rocked him for five runs (3 earned) and eight hits in just 4 1/3 innings.
"It was just embarrassing," Hendriks said. "I got behind guys. I left balls up. Once I was ahead, I was fine. I just wasn't ahead very often, and they made me pay for it. I got lackadaisical and just wasn't myself. I need to get back to getting ahead early and keeping the ball down."
Oakland was 5-4 last season against the Twins.
- OAKLAND: 3
MINNESOTA: 4
Final
Sep 10 11:08 PM - Josh Willingham one-out, two-run Home Run 2 (14) to left scored Clete Thomas. Trevor Plouffe due up.
Athletics 3, Twins 4 Bot 8, 1 OutSep 10 10:52 PM - Oswaldo Arcia lead-off Home Run (11) to right center. Ryan Doumit due up.
Athletics 3, Twins 2 Bot 6, 0 OutsSep 10 10:08 PM - Yoenis Cespedes single to left scored Josh Donaldson with one out. On the play, Brandon Moss advances to second. Runners on first and second and Alberto Callaspo due up.
Athletics 3, Twins 1 Top 6, 1 OutSep 10 10:00 PM - Alberto Callaspo none-out, two-run Home Run (7) to right scored Yoenis Cespedes. Daric Barton due up.
Athletics 2, Twins 1 Top 5, 0 OutsSep 10 9:25 PM - Josh Willingham one-out, solo Home Run (13) to left center. Trevor Plouffe due up.
Athletics 0, Twins 1 Bot 2, 1 OutSep 10 8:36 PM - OAKLAND: 0
MINNESOTA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 10 8:11 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Greatest Minnesota Twins: The Twinkie Town Definitive List (Round 9) Dec 26
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- The season of perpetual hope (Pt. 3 of 3): Jim Eisenreich Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- Rival Roundup, Vol. 47: Home for the Holidays Dec 23
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: JJ Bleday Dec 21
- Elephant Rumblings: Replies off, talk to the hand Dec 21