The Minnesota Twins answered Friday’s 2-0 loss with a shutout of their own Saturday.
The Athletics managed only three hits and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in a 2-0 loss at Target Field. Minnesota scored both runs in the sixth, wasting another strong night from the A’s pitching staff.
The loss dropped the Athletics to 44-60 and set up a rubber match Sunday.
Pitching keeps it close
Brady Basso opened the game with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three.
Then Mason Barnett took over with one out in the third. Barnett escaped a runner-at-third situation by striking out Byron Buxton and retiring Kody Clemens on a fly ball.
Barnett kept Minnesota off the board through the fifth. However, the Twins finally broke through in the sixth.
Josh Bell walked with one out, and Royce Lewis followed with a double to left. After Victor Caratini flied out, Alan Roden lined a two-run single to right.
That was enough.
Barnett took the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out two.
Still, the bullpen kept the game within reach. José Suarez, Hayden Juenger and Luis Medina combined for 2 1/3 perfect innings with three strikeouts.
Three hits, no runs
The Athletics could not turn their limited offense into a run.
Tyler Soderstrom singled in the first inning. Then Jeff McNeil supplied the other two hits with doubles in the fifth and seventh.
The A’s created their first real chance in the third. Henry Bolte walked, and Lawrence Butler moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt.
Jacob Wilson advanced Bolte to third on a fly ball. However, Nick Kurtz struck out to end the inning.
McNeil doubled with one out in the fifth, and Butler followed with a walk. Wilson then grounded into a force play to end the threat.
The seventh brought another McNeil double. Still, Bolte flied out with McNeil stranded at second.
The chance slips away
The Athletics had their best opening in the eighth.
Butler walked, and Wilson reached on a fielder’s choice. A throwing error by pitcher Andrew Morris moved Butler to third and Wilson to second with nobody out.
Then the rally disappeared.
Kurtz struck out for the first out. Soderstrom followed with another strikeout before Jonah Heim grounded out to end the inning.
Kurtz returned from the injured list and went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts.. Meanwhile, the Athletics struck out 10 times overall and left seven runners on base.
The A’s also failed to record a hit after McNeil’s seventh-inning double.
Numbers that mattered
Minnesota finished with six hits and went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Roden drove in both runs with his two-out single in the sixth. Lewis doubled and scored, while Bell walked and scored.
For the Athletics, McNeil went 2-for-4 with two doubles. Soderstrom had the only other hit.
The pitching staff allowed two runs on six hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. However, the offense could not provide any support.
Up next
The Athletics and Twins decide the series Sunday at Target Field. First pitch is scheduled for 11:10 a.m. PDT.
Left-hander Jeffrey Springs starts for the A’s. He enters at 3-9 with a 5.96 ERA and 86 strikeouts.
Minnesota counters with left-hander Connor Prielipp, who is 2-5 with a 5.00 ERA and 71 strikeouts.
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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.
