The Oakland A’s beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 in 11 innings at Target Field on Tuesday.
It is the eighth straight time the A’s have beaten the Twins.
Derek Norris’ one-out three-run home run in the 11th off of Twins reliever Jared Burton gave the A’s the lead for good. It was his second homer of the series. Burton gave up a walk and a single before Norris’ blast.
Minnesota threatened in the 11th again, leaving the bases loaded when Trevor Plouffe lined out.
Plouffe in bases-loaded spot hits the first pitch on the screws. Right at third baseman. Twins lose in extras.
— Derek Wetmore (@DerekWetmore) April 9, 2014
A’s reliever Dan Otero picked up the win, while Burton was tagged with the loss for the Twins.
The Twins forced extra-innings thanks to a late rally. Brian Dozier homered in the eighth to cut the A’s lead to 4-2. Then in the ninth with the bases loaded and one out, Dozier hit a sacrifice fly to right that scored Kurt Suzuki on a close play at home to tie it at four.
After Glenn Perkins pitched a scoreless top of the 10th the Twins failed to do anything offensively.
Then Norris and the A’s struck for their damage in the 11th.
Josh Donaldson was 2-5 with an RBI and a run scored to lead Oakland. Alberto Callaspo also had two hits on the afternoon for the A’s.
Jason Kubel had a big day for the Twins. He was 4-5 with a home run and two runs scored. Dozier also homered and drove in a pair of runs. Joe Mauer and Plouffe also had two hits for the Twins.
The offensive rally helped Minnesota get back into the game after early struggles from starter Phil Hughes. Hughes allowed the A’s to get out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning when the first four Oakland hitters all scored.
Hughes settled down after that and threw four shutout innings.
Phil Hughes' career ERA by inning: 1 (4.27), 2 ( 3.50), 3 (6.32), 4 (4.24), 5 (5.16), 6 (5.56), 7 (3.77), 8 (2.04), 9 (1.08). #MNTwins
— Mike BerardinoNDI (@MikeBerardino) April 9, 2014
The Twins and A’s wrap up the series tomorrow.
