by Jerry Feitelberg.

The A’s lost again to the Twins Thursday afternoon in Minnesota by a score of 6-5. The A’s manager Bob Melvin made a couple of changes in the lineup by having Brett Lawrie play second and Eric Sogard was moved to short. Lawrie and Sogard each committed an error that led to two unearned runs in the game. A’s starter, Drew Pomeranz, did not go deep into the game either. Pomeranz walked five hitters in just 4 1/3rd innings of work as he absorbed his third loss of the season Pomeranz gave up just three hits and allowed six runs, two of which were unearned but he caused his own downfall by allowing the five walks.

The A’s scored two runs in the top of the second. Billy Butler led off the inning with a double. Ike Davis walked and that was followed by a Brett Lawrie single to load the bases.  Max Muncy flied out to deep center field to drive in Butler with the first run. Davis and Lawrie tagged up and advanced to third and second on the out. Catcher Josh Phegley flied out to center to drive in Davis with the second run of the inning. The Twins scored three times in their half of the inning on just one hit. The Twins loaded the bases on a single and two walks with no out. Twins center fielder Shane Robinson grounded into a force out, shortstop Eric Sogard to Brett Lawrie. Vargas scored from third. Brett Lawrie threw the ball away trying to complete the double play allowing Escobar to score. Kurt Suzuki advanced to third and Robinson wound up on second base.  Pomeranz got Eddie Rosario to fly out to left, but it was deep enough to drive in Suzuki with the third run of the inning.

The A’s reclaimed the lead in the top of the third. Center fielder Billy Burns singled to get things going. Twins’ second baseman, Brian Dozier robbed Sam Fuld and Josh Reddick on the next two consecutive plays making fantastic plays on the line drives. Burns stole second and scored on a Billy Butler single and Butler came in to score on a double to left by Ike Davis. A’s lead 4-3. The Twins tied the game at four in the bottom of the fourth. With two out, Kurt Suzuki singled. Shane Robinson reached first on a fielding error by Eric Sogard. Suzuki advanced to second and scored on a single by Eduardo Escobar.

In the bottom of the fifth, Pomeranz walked Brian Dozier, then retired Torii Hunter, but walked Trevor Plouffe. Bob Melvin had seen enough and Pomeranz was done for the day. Dan Otero was now pitching for Oakland. Otero walked the first batter he faced loading the bases.  Eduardo Escobar, who torched A’s pitching in the four-game series, did it again. He hit a single to right driving in Dozier and Plouffe to put the Twins up 6-4.

The A’s made it a one-run game in the sixth. Big Ike Davis slammed his second home run of the year into right centerfield. That made the score 6-5 and there was no more scoring the rest of the way as the Twins won the game and took the series three games to one.

Notes-The A’s are now 3-4 on the 10-game road trip. They are on their way to meet the Mariners in Seattle for the next three games before returning home to Oakland to face the Boston Red Sox Monday night.

The A’s are not in sync at all. On a day when the bullpen improved and hitting was good, the defense failed them.They made two errors that led to two unearned runs. Fernando Rodriguez recalled from Nashville, pitched well as did Evan Scribner. They held the Twins scoreless the last three innings of the game.

The A’s announced that they designated Chad Smith for assignment. They have 10 days in which he can be claimed off waivers or be traded or released. The A’s closer, Sean Doolittle will face live hitters Friday night in Seattle as he continues to make progress from his shoulder injury. No date has been set for his return off the DL.

The A’s record falls to 12-18 while the Twins are now 16-13.