Max Muncy on Thursday afternoon in the A’s 14-3 win over the Twins at Sutter Health Park

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO — The Athletics snapped their nine-game losing streak in a big way on Thursday afternoon 14-3 at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento. The A’s put on a clinic in the Sacramento sun as they hammered the Twins for 17 hits and 14 runs.

The A’s offense was on a heater from the start, putting up four runs in the bottom of the first inning, capped by a Max Muncy three-run shot to left field. From there, they didn’t look back. The A’s added three runs in the third, four in the fourth, one in the fifth, and two in the seventh to down the Twins by a 14-3 final.

Everyone in the A’s starting lineup tallied a hit, but a few stood out. Tyler Soderstrom finished the game with a two-run shot and a grand slam, driving in six RBI. Jacob Wilson had a perfect day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a walk before the Twins turned to a position player on the mound. Wilson also launched a home run over the wall in left field—his eighth of the year.

Mark Kotsay spoke on the offensive explosion after the game, saying, “There was good energy today. That’s what we have to do, and we have to come here with a mindset that, you know, as I say a lot, just prepare for the day—and today was a really good day of preparation. Especially for a 12:35 game after another loss.”

The A’s locker room was filled with laughs and excitement after the win that snapped the nine-game skid. Among the praise was plenty heaped on Mitch Spence, who served as the opener and dealt in his five innings of work. Spence ate innings efficiently, allowing just one run on three hits while striking out four. It seemed the whole locker room was shouting some form of praise or good-natured joke at Mitch as we interviewed him afterward.

In relief of Spence, Sean Newcomb pitched an inning and two-thirds, giving up two runs on two hits. The rest of the A’s bullpen held the Twins scoreless. Michael Kelly, who had been suspended by MLB for the past year for violating the league’s policies on sports betting, made his return to the mound on Thursday. Kelly tossed an inning and a third of scoreless, hitless ball. Mason Miller came in to finish the game in the ninth, facing the minimum and issuing one walk.

With the win, the A’s snapped their nine-game losing streak and avoided a sweep at the hands of the Twins. They improved to 24-40 on the season. The A’s will welcome the Baltimore Orioles to town on Friday for a three-game series at Sutter Health Park. The Orioles plan to send Dean Kremer (5-5, 4.70 ERA) to the hill for the 7:05 PM PST opener. The A’s have yet to announce a starter.

Note of the Day: Jacob Wilson leads all MLB shortstops in batting average (.363), on-base percentage (.402), and OPS (.925). This comes in his rookie season after getting a taste of the big leagues last year.

I asked A’s manager Mark Kotsay for his thoughts on the tremendous season Wilson is putting together. “It’s been excellent. For a young man to win rookie of the month, first and foremost, speaks to what he has been doing right now in terms of his performance… Going into the season, the big concern was the wear and tear on him. I think at this point he’s holding up really well.”