The Minnesota Twins Miguel Sano exults after hitting a three run home run versus the Oakland A’s and pitcher Jake Diekman in the eighth inning at Target Field in Minneapolis on Sat May 15, 2021 (AP News photo)

Oakland Loses A Tough One To The Twins 5-4

By Barbara Mason

Saturday afternoon the Oakland A’s took on the Minnesota Twins in game two of their three game series. The A’s prevailed in the first game of the series 6-1 yesterday in a home run derby, four in all. Ramon Laureano, Sean Murphy, Stephen Piscotty and Mark Canha all knocked balls out of the park in the win.

Matt Olson would pick up where Mark Canha left off yesterday and knocked a 420 foot blast in the first inning. Seth Brown was on base giving the A’s the early 2-0 lead.

The Twins would cut that lead in half in the bottom of the first inning. Garlick singled, Donaldson doubled and Cruz grounded out to second driving Garlick home.

The A’s increased their lead in the third inning when Laureano singled and Mark Canha who was on third scored for a 3-1 count.

Going into the fifth inning Oakland would continue to deposit into the second deck of Target Field. Mark Canha would hit his second home run of the series. The A’s now led by the score of 4-1.

The game got tense in the seventh when the Twins loaded the bases. Oakland was able to get out of the inning when Matt Chapman made a great catch in foul territory for the third out ending the Minnesota bid

Things took a disastrous turn in the bottom of the eighth inning. Sano would homer with Polanco and Refsnyer on base and just like that, the Twins took a 5-4 lead. Petit who had relieved Irvin was pulled and Diekman came into the game. With one swing of the bat this game took an ugly turn for the A’s.

The A’s were unable to provide any further offense and the Twins had really pulled the rug from under the A’s. It was a real disappointment for Oakland after controlling seven innings and to let it go in the eighth inning.

Tomorrow the A’s will take on the Twins in the final game of the series. First pitch is at 11:10.