The expression on the Chevron car on the Oakland Coliseum padded outfield wall kind of says it all about Wed May 18, 2022 game as Oakland A’s leftfielder Chad Pinder (10) can’t get a glove on the Minnesota Twins Luis Arraez’ double in the fourth inning. (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND–The Minnesota Twins (22-16) pummeled the Oakland A’s (16-24) to take two out of three from the A’s. Oakland’s starter Daulton Jefferies (1-7 ERA 5.72) gave up six runs in four innings of work.

A’s pitchers issued ten walks. The Twins strolled to an easy 14-4 win over Oakland. There were 26 hits in the game, and not one left the park.

The Twins got off to a hot start in the finale of the three-game set with the A’s. With one out, Twins’ first baseman Luis Arreaz single. Fresh off the 10-day IL, the next hitter Carlos Correa singled, sending Arreaz to third.

Jefferies struck out Jorge Polanco for the second out. Jefferies walked Max Kepler to load the bases. Jefferies now had the task of pitching to the power-hitting DH, Gary Sanchez. Sanchez worked the count 3-2.

With the runners going on the pitch, Sanchez blooped a broken-bat single onto a short leftfield to drive in Kepler with the Twins’ third run. The A’s, facing their former teammate Sonny Gray put one on the board in the bottom of the first.

With two out, Ramon Laureano doubled. First baseman Seth Brown singled to drive in Laureano with the A’s first run. The Twins led 3-1 after one inning of play.

The Twins added to their lead in the top of the third. With one out, Jefferies walked Jorge Polanco. Jefferies retired Kepler for the second out. The next hitter, Gary Sanchez, blasted a double to deep right-center-field to drive in Polanco.

The Twins lead 4-1 midway through the third. The A’s rallied in their half of the third to make it a 4-2 game. With two out, Seth Brown ripped a ball down the right-field line that went for a triple. The next batter, A’s catcher Christian Bethancourt, singled to drive in Brown.

The Twins continued to make life miserable for Jefferies. With two out in the top of the fourth, Jefferies walked Byron Buxton. Luis Arreaz, a left-handed-hitter, blasted a ball that went over A’s left fielder Chad Pinder’s head for a double to drive in Buxton with the Twins’ fifth run.

The onslaught didn’t end. Twins’ shortstop Carlos Correa doubled to drive in Arreaz. The score is now 6-2. A’s manager Mark Kotsay sent the word to the bullpen to get someone to get ready to relieve Jefferies.

A’s reliever Justin Grimm pitched a scoreless fifth. It wasn’t easy as the Twins had the bases loaded with one out. The A’s nailed the runner at home for the second out. Grimm got the final out 1-2 to end the inning.

The Twins broke the game open when they sent nine to the plate in the top of the sixth. Lefty Kirby Snead was on the hill for Oakland. Snead contributed to his downfall by walking the first two batters he faced. Snead gave up three hits and three walks that allowed the Twins to score five times. The Twinkies lead 11-2 midway through six.

Oakland added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Two singles and a player hit by a pitch loaded the bases with no out. Tony Kemp’s sacrifice fly to left drove in the A’s third run. The Twins are in the driver’s seat 11-3 after seven.

With two out in the eighth, Chad Pinder doubled off the wall in right field. Luis Barrera, playing right-field for the A’s, singled for the third time to drive in Ponder. The A’s trail 11-4.

Chad Pinder is on the mound to pitch the ninth for Oakland. It did not go well for Pinder and the A’s. Pinder walked three and gave up a single and double, and the Twins plated three more runs to own a 14-4 advantage as the A’s are batting for the last time. The A’s failed to score in the ninth. The Twins win 14-4.

Game Notes- The A’s fall to 16-24 for the year. The A’s have played about 25% of the season. If the A’s continue on this pace, they will win about 65 or 66 games this year. The Twins are now 22-16 and are first in the AL Central Division. The A’s reside in the AL West cellar.

Daulton Jefferies was the losing pitcher. His record is now 1-7. Former A’s pitcher Gray picked up the win. He is now 1-1.

The A’s line was four runs, 12 hits, and one error. The hitting star for Oakland was Luis Barrera with three hits. Seth Brown had a single and a triple. Kevin Smith added two hits.

The Twins line was 14 runs, 14 hits, and one error. They benefited from ten walks issued by the A’s. Eight of those who walked scored.

The A’s are off on Thursday. They meet the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim for three games this weekend. For Friday night’s tilt, Righty Paul Blackburn (4-0, ERA 1.67) will go for Oakland. The Angels’ Chase Silseth will oppose him. Silseth is 1-0, with a 0.00 ERA. First pitch at 6:38 pm PT.

The time of the game was 3:25. 7,106 fans watched the A’s get trounced at the Coliseum.