By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Saturday, June 7, 2014

Jon Lester continues to pay immediate dividends for Oakland since he was acquired from Boston at the non-waiver trade deadline. The All-Star lefthander threw his fourth career shutout Thursday, blanking Minnesota 3-0 at the Coliseum.

In the process, the Athletics became the first team this season to reach the 70-win mark, while the Twins lost game No. 82, assuring that Minnesota cannot finish at least .500 on the season.

Lester (12-7) fanned eight, issued two walks and only allowed two Twins baserunners to advance past first base while tossing his 11th career shutout. The only potential trouble Lester encountered was working out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

The former Red Sox ace had a perfect game going until former A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki singled to lead off the Twins’ sixth. Lester is 6-0 with a 1.21 ERA in his last six starts.

Oakland took a 2-0 lead in the third inning when Stephen Vogt snapped an 0-for-23 skid with his sixth home run of the year, a two-run shot off losing pitcher Yohan Pino (1-4). The A’s tacked on another run in the fourth when Brandon Moss and Derek Norris cracked back-to-back doubles.

From there, Lester did the rest.

In Friday’s game, Kyle Gibson (10-8) is on the mound for Minnesota, facing Oakland lefthander Scott Kasmir (12-4).