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A's try to continue recent mastery of Twins

Apr 9, 2014 - 2:01 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Oakland will hand the ball to righty Jesse Chavez on Wednesday, as the Athletics try to continue their recent mastery of the Minnesota Twins in the second of three games at Target Field.

Oakland was 6-1 against the Twins last year and has won 12 of the last 14 matchups in the series, including the last seven. That trend continued on Monday, as Brandon Moss and Yoenis Cespedes each drove in two runs to help the Athletics spoil the Twins' home opener with an 8-3 triumph.

Derek Norris slugged a solo home run, while Alberto Callaspo and Josh Reddick registered an RBI apiece for the A's, who have won two in a row.

Scott Kazmir (2-0) made the start for Oakland and allowed just three runs on six hits and four walks with five strikeouts over six innings to pick up the victory.

"I wasn't as sharp as I would like to be to say the least," said Kazmir. "It wasn't very pretty out there, but I got to the third inning and tried to get as many quick outs as I could to get as deep as I possibly could."

Minnesota starter Kevin Correia (0-1) was knocked around for six runs on nine hits and two walks over 5 2/3 frames to absorb the loss. Jason Kubel, Kurt Suzuki and Aaron Hicks each had an RBI for the Twins, who went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded 10 men on base.

"I plan on this staff to be able to throw quite a number of innings so we can take some pressure off the bullpen," Correia said.

On Tuesday Oakland will turn to Chavez, who will try to follow up a solid season debut. Chavez did not get a decision on Thursday against Seattle, despite giving up just two runs (1 earned) and five hits in six innings of his team's 3-2 win.

Minnesota, meanwhile, will hand the ball to righty Phil Hughes, who was not sharp in his Twins' debut on Thursday. Hughes didn't factor in the decision of his team's 10-9 win, but was hit for four runs and seven hits in five innings.