Jacob Lopez gave the Athletics exactly what they needed Friday night.
Lopez worked five scoreless innings, and four relievers finished a two-hit shutout in a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
The A’s managed only five hits. However, they scratched out single runs in the fifth and sixth before the bullpen protected the lead.
The win moved the Athletics to 44-59 and opened the series on the right note.
Lopez sets the tone
Lopez allowed one hit across five innings. He walked four, struck out four and kept Minnesota hitless with runners in scoring position.
The left-hander worked around traffic throughout the night. Still, the Twins never broke through.
Minnesota’s best chance against Lopez came in the fourth. Royce Lewis walked, stole second and third, while Luke Keaschall also walked and stole second.
However, Brooks Lee popped out to Jacob Wilson to end the inning.
Then Austin Martin doubled with one out in the fifth. Lopez answered by retiring Byron Buxton on a line drive and Ryan Jeffers on a fly ball.
Lopez improved to 5-4 and lowered his ERA to 6.12.
Among Athletics pitchers with at least 10 starts, only Lopez and J.T. Ginn have winning records this season. Ginn is 8-6, while Lopez moved one game above .500.
Two runs are enough
The Athletics did not produce much offense, but they made their chances count.
Donovan Walton walked with one out in the fifth. Then Tommy White doubled to center, putting runners at second and third.
Jeff McNeil followed with another walk. Soon after, Lawrence Butler lifted a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Walton for a 1-0 lead.
The inning ended when White was thrown out at home on a wild pitch.
Next, Henry Bolte opened the sixth with a single. Jacob Wilson moved him to second on a groundout before Tyler Soderstrom singled to left.
Bolte scored, giving the A’s a 2-0 cushion.
Soderstrom finished 1-for-3 with a walk and one RBI. His sixth-inning single also extended his hitting streak to seven games.
White added his second double of the season. Meanwhile, Shea Langeliers had two hits, including a ninth-inning double.
Bullpen shuts the door
Geoff Hartlieb opened the sixth and immediately created danger.
Hartlieb walked Josh Bell and Lewis. After striking out Victor Caratini, he threw a wild pitch and walked Keaschall to load the bases.
Then José Suarez entered and escaped.
Lee grounded into a double play started by White at third base. Suarez followed with a perfect seventh, retiring all three batters on groundouts.
Elvis Alvarado allowed a leadoff single to Jeffers in the eighth. However, Wilson started a double play on Bell’s ground ball before Lewis flied out.
Hogan Harris finished the shutout in the ninth. He struck out Caratini, hit Keaschall and induced another game-ending double play from Lee.
Harris earned his eighth save. The bullpen combined for four scoreless innings without allowing a run.
Numbers that mattered
The Twins finished 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left eight runners on base.
The Athletics turned three double plays. Also, Minnesota managed only two hits despite drawing seven walks.
Lopez threw 91 pitches, including 50 strikes. The four relievers needed 50 combined pitches to cover the final four innings.
The A’s went 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left four on base.
Up next
The Athletics continue the series Saturday at Target Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. PDT.
Right-hander Mason Barnett starts for the A’s. He enters at 1-0 with a 4.64 ERA and 21 strikeouts.
Minnesota has not announced its starting pitcher.
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
