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Casilla, Morneau help Twins stymie Athletics

Sep 1, 2008 - 12:53 AM By Michael Duca PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- This was a win the Minnesota Twins desperately needed.

After twice squandering opportunities to pass the Chicago White Sox with walk-off losses to the Oakland A's this weekend, the Twins salvaged a series split as Alexi Casilla and Justin Morneau homered in a 12-4 win over the Athletics.

The Twins (77-60) remained one-half game behind the White Sox (77-59) in the AL Central and gained a game on Boston (79-57) in the chase for the wild card. The Twins are now 5-6 on their season-long 14-game road trip.

"We've still got some travel after this trip," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "We complain about this trip, but you can't get any tougher travel than these teams out in the West have. We're going to try to keep our whining down and get through it."

Justin Morneau opened the scoring in the first inning after singling home Nick Punto and Minnesota added two more in the second inning after Casilla homered off losing pitcher Greg Smith (6-14).

"I've been struggling a little lately, and (Saturday) I was too aggressive," Casilla said. "I just wanted to make a good swing at a good pitch today."

Oakland cut into the deficit after Jack Hannahan's opposite-field line drive spun away from left fielder Delmon Young, allowing Daric Barton to score from first. Hannahan was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple.

Smith and winning pitcher Scott Baker (8-4) kept the game under control until the sixth inning, when Smith and reliever Keith Foulke threw 52 pitches as the Twins broke the game open.

"It was a little rough early," Smith said. "But then I settled in and made some pitches, until the sixth inning, when I didn't make any pitches."

Morneau highlighted a five-run sixth by depositing a three-run homer to the stairway in deep right field at McAfee Coliseum.

The home run made Morneau the ninth Minnesota player to reach 500 RBI in a Twins uniform.

"I'm becoming more of a souvenir guy - I have my first hit," Morneau said, "but not my first RBI. Right now, it doesn't mean as much, but when I get done playing I'll be glad I have things like (the ball)."

Jason Kubel doubled and Young walked before Smith yielded the mound to Foulke, who allowed an RBI double and a sacrifice fly before ending the five-run inning. Smith threw five-plus innings and allowed eight runs on seven hits and three walks, striking out four.

"I felt like I was throwing strikes," Smith said, "but I had three walks and two came after the infield hit in the sixth, so that compounded everything."

Aaron Cunningham, the fifth player acquired by Oakland in the Dan Haren deal with Arizona, made his Oakland debut and earned his first major league hit with a ground rule double off Dennys Reyes in the seventh.

The Twins kept adding on, with several late unearned runs, while Oakland touched up Eddie Guardado for three late runs on four hits and a walk.

Baker pitched six innings, allowing one earned run on six hits, walking one and striking out four.

"It was a big win today," Baker said. "We needed to salvage the series, and it feels good with a cross-country flight ahead of us."