Recap: Oakland vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | August 29, 2008
Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Kurt Suzuki had a pinch-hit, game-winning double in the ninth to lead the Oakland Athletics in a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins in the opener of a four-game set. With the contest knotted at 2-2, Ryan Sweeney opened the ninth with a single off Craig Breslow (0-2) and moved to second on Daric Barton's sac bunt. Jesse Crain was called in from the 'pen to face pinch-hitter Emil Brown, who worked a walk before being replaced at first by Cliff Pennington. Suzuki then belted a double off the wall in left-center to score Sweeney for the 3-2 victory. Barton had the other RBI for the A's, who have won three of their last four games. Sweeney and Bobby Crosby both had two hits and scored a run in the win. Starter Dana Eveland pitched well but wound up with a no-decision, as he lasted seven innings and gave up two runs on five hits while walking three with a pair of strikeouts. Joey Devine (4-0) was dealt the win after tossing a scoreless ninth. Justin Morneau and Nick Punto both drove in a run for the Twins, who have dropped five of their last six. Starter Nick Blackburn lasted 5 2/3 innings and was touched for two runs on six hits while registering a pair of walks and as many strikeouts in the no-decision. With the loss, Minnesota fell 1 1/2 games back of the idle first-place Chicago White Sox in the AL Central and remained 2 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the Wild Card standings. Boston fell to New York earlier Thursday. The A's broke a scoreless tie in the fourth frame as Frank Thomas led off with a double to left. Sweeney singled to make it first and third before Barton hit a grounder up the middle that Alexi Casilla made a diving stop for. The second baseman flipped the ball to Punto, who relayed it to Morneau for the double play. Thomas, though, was able to cross home to give Oakland a 1-0 lead. Minnesota rallied to tie it up in the sixth. Denard Span legged out an infield single and was safe at second as Casilla grounded into a fielder's choice. The runners crafted a double steal and Joe Mauer walked to load the bases, which led to Morneau's game-tying sac fly to left field. Oakland took the lead back, 2-1, in the home half. Crosby led off with a double and, after Jack Cust and Thomas were retired, Sweeney worked a walk to make it first and second. Barton then hit a lazy fly ball to shallow left that dropped in for an RBI single. Delmon Young led off the seventh with a double, moved to third on a Brendan Harris fly ball to right and came home on Punto's single to tie the game at two. Game Notes Minnesota is 3-5 thus far on its 14-game road trek...Minnesota fell to 3-4 in its seven matchups with the A's this season, but holds a 14-10 advantage in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign. Game Notes Minnesota is 3-5 thus far on its 14-game road trek...Minnesota fell to 3-4 in its seven matchups with the A's this season, but holds a 14-10 advantage in the series since the start of the 2006 campaign.
