Twins 2 - 3 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Mauer, Twins eyeing top spot in AL Central

Aug 30, 2008 - 10:17 AM Minnesota (76-59) at Oakland (62-73), 9:05 pm EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins hope to build off an impressive performance and grab first place in the American League Central when they face the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

Mauer led a season-high 20-hit attack Friday, matching a career-high with five hits to lead the the Minnesota Twins to a 12-2 rout of the Oakland Athletics.

With the win, the Twins moved within one-half game of the Chicago White Sox in the division.

The 2006 AL batting champion, Mauer drove in a season-high four runs Friday and raised his batting average to a league-best .324. He also has eight home runs and 66 RBI.

The Athletics hope lefthander Dallas Braden (4-3, 4.13 ERA) can contain Mauer and the rest of the Twins' offense. Braden tossed seven frames in Monday's 2-1 triumph over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, giving up one run and seven hits.

Minnesota counters with lefthander Francisco Liriano (4-3, 3.83), who has won his last four decisions. The 24-year-old is 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA since being called up from the minors on August 3.








  • AL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 7 1
    OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 3 6 1 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: MIN - FRANCISCO LIRIANO, MATT GUERRIER (8TH), JOE NATHAN (9TH) AND
    JOE MAUER
    OAK - DALLAS BRADEN, ALAN EMBREE (7TH), HUSTON STREET
    (8TH) AND KURT SUZUKI

    HOME RUN

    Aug 30 11:39 PM


  • AL
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    ERROR BY JOE NATHAN ALLOWED BOBBY CROSBY AND EMIL BROWN TO
    SCORE.
    FINAL SCORE: OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 2

    Twins 2, Athletics 3  Bot 9, 0 OutsAug 30 11:39 PM
  • 40
    roots
    RUWTbot Added 35 roots (Close Finish)

    Twins 2, Athletics 1  Bot 7, 0 OutsAug 30 10:57 PM


  • AL
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY JACK CUST (25) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 0 OUT
    IN THE 5TH OFF FRANCISCO LIRIANO.
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, OAKLAND 1
    DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D BARTON (.217, 1-FOR-1)

    Twins 2, Athletics 1  Bot 5, 0 OutsAug 30 10:23 PM


  • AL
    AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
    TWO-RUN HOME RUN BY DENARD SPAN (4) TO RIGHT WITH 1 OUT IN
    THE 5TH OFF DALLAS BRADEN SCORED ALEXI CASILLA.
    CURRENT SCORE: MINNESOTA 2, OAKLAND 0
    DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.288, 1-FOR-2)

    Twins 2, Athletics 0  Top 5, 0 OutsAug 30 10:23 PM

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