By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Thursday, April 10, 2014

After a slow start, Oakland starter Dan Straily hit his stride, scattering three hits over seven innings as the Athletics completed a three-game sweep at Target Field in Minneapolis, defeating the Minnesota Twins 6-1.

Straily (1-1) got offensive support from home runs by Sam Fuld and Josh Donaldson.

Oakland’s rotation is off to a hot start, opening the season with nine straight quality starts allowing three runs or less. In that stretch, the A’s starters have compiled a 1.93 earned run average in 56 innings.

Straily, who allowed a solo home run by Brian Dozier in the first inning, allowed only two Twins baserunners in his final five innings. He bested Mike Pelfrey (0-2), who gave up all six Oakland runs in five innings.

With a five-run lead, Oakland was able to avoid a save situation on the same day the A’s took the closer’s role away from Jim Johnson, who was acquired from Baltimore in the off-season.

Johnson is 0-2 in five games with an ERA of 18.90. Manager Bob Melvin said the A’s will go with a closer-by-committee system while Johnson tries to regain his old form.

The Athletics travel to Seattle for a weekend series against the Mariners. Tommy Milone will make his first start of the season Friday with a tall order, facing M’s ace Felix Hernandez.

(TAGS: Oakland Athletics,A’s,Sports Radio Service)