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Norris' homer in 11th lifts A's over Twins

Apr 10, 2014 - 12:38 AM Minneapolis, MN (SportsNetwork.com) - Derek Norris hit a three-run homer in the 11th inning to lift the Oakland Athletics over the Minnesota Twins, 7-4, in the middle installment of a three-game series.

Brandon Moss knocked in two runs for the Athletics, who have won eight straight against Minnesota. Josh Donaldson and Alberto Callaspo added an RBI apiece.

Oakland starter Jesse Chavez allowed one run on six hits while striking out nine over seven innings. Dan Otero (1-0) tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings to pick up the win.

Brian Dozier hit a solo homer and ended with two RBI for the Twins, who went 1-for-6 with runner in scoring position and stranded 11. Jason Kubel went 4- for-5 with a solo homer.

Minnesota starter Phil Hughes allowed four runs on five hits and walked three over five innings. Jared Burton (0-1) gave up the homer to Norris to take the loss.

"Just a combination of some jitters and overthrowing," Hughes said of his early struggles. "You talk about four runs down and 40 pitches in and it's a tough way to start."

Dozier's homer off Sean Doolittle in the eighth got the Twins within 4-2.

Minnesota tacked on two more runs in the ninth to send the game into extras. With Jim Johnson on the mound, Kubel singled before Kurt Suzuki and Aaron Hicks walked to load the bases with one out. Eduardo Escobar followed with an RBI single to left. Suzuki was almost thrown out at third on the play, which resulted in a video review.

Otero replaced Johnson and gave up a sacrifice fly to Dozier. Suzuki tagged up and was called safe on a close play at the plate.

Norris put the A's back in front in the 11th. Burton walked Daric Barton and gave up a single to Callaspo. With one out, Norris smacked a 2-1 pitch over the wall in left-center field.

The Twins loaded the bases in the bottom half of the frame, but Trevor Plouffe lined out to third to end the game.

Earlier, the A's jumped out a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Sam Fuld and Jed Lowrie worked back-to-back walks to start things. Donaldson followed with an RBI double to right-center field and Moss added a two-run single to left. After Yoenis Cespedes doubled, Callaspo hit an RBI single to left.

"It looked like early on we had a chance to run them out of the gym and then we don't sniff anything until way later," A's manager Bob Melvin said of his team scoring four in the first and failing to score again until the 11th.

Minnesota got one run back in the second on Kubel's homer.

Game Notes

Oakland went 4-for-9 with RISP and stranded five ... The Twins had 13 hits, compared to seven for the A's ... The Twins honored manager Ron Gardenhire before the game for his 1,000th career victory.