Minnesota Twins Alan Roden swings for a two run single in the single in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Sacramnento A’s at Target Field in Minneapolois on Sat Jul 25, 2026 (AP News photo)

Roden’s Two Run Answer Leaves A’s Bats Stumped in 2-0 loss

By Mauricio Segura

The Sacramento Athletics spent eight innings searching for one useful hit and never found it. Alan Roden supplied Minnesota’s only scoring with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth, and the Twins held the A’s to three hits in a 2-0 victory that evened the series at one game apiece.

Minnesota had to change plans before the first pitch when scheduled starter Mike Paredes was scratched during warmups because of a left oblique strain. Kendry Rojas took the assignment with little notice and looked fully prepared, allowing only Tyler Soderstrom’s first-inning single while striking out five across four scoreless innings. He retired 10 of the final 11 hitters he faced and gave the Twins’ bullpen a game it could protect.

The A’s first serious chance developed in the third. Henry Bolte drew a leadoff walk, Lawrence Butler moved him to second with a sacrifice bunt, and Jacob Wilson’s fly ball sent Bolte to third. Nick Kurtz then struck out, leaving the runner 90 feet away.

Kurtz was activated from the injured list before the game after recovering from a right thumb capsule sprain. His return produced four strikeouts in four plate appearances. The contrast was especially harsh because one year earlier, Kurtz went 6-for-6 with four home runs, eight RBI and 19 total bases in one of the greatest games in franchise history.

Brady Basso did his part as the A’s opener, working 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Minnesota threatened in the third when Ryan Kreidler doubled and stole third, but Mason Barnett struck out Byron Buxton and retired Kody Clemens on a fly ball. Barnett kept the game scoreless through the fifth, giving the Athletics several chances to move ahead.

Jeff McNeil created another opening in the fifth with a fan-interference double to right. Butler drew a two-out walk, but Wilson grounded into a force play. McNeil doubled again with two outs in the seventh, only for Bolte to fly out. Those two doubles made McNeil the only Athletics hitter to reach safely twice.

Minnesota finally broke through in the sixth. Josh Bell drew a one-out walk, and Royce Lewis doubled to left, putting two runners in scoring position. Barnett retired Victor Caratini on a fly ball and was one out from escaping, but Roden sent a ground ball into right field. Bell and Lewis scored, giving the Twins all they needed. José Suarez replaced Barnett and struck out Brooks Lee to end the inning.

The A’s best opportunity unfolded in the eighth and ended with nothing. Butler drew a leadoff walk, and pitcher Andrew Morris made a throwing error on Wilson’s fielder’s choice, putting Butler at third and Wilson at second with nobody out. Kurtz and Soderstrom struck out, then Jonah Heim grounded out. Heim entered the game one hit shy of 500 for his career, but an 0-for-4 performance kept him at 499.

Hayden Juenger and Luis Medina each delivered a scoreless inning for the A’s, but Minnesota’s relievers never surrendered the lead. Taylor Rogers earned the victory with two scoreless innings, while Yoendrys Gómez finished the ninth for his 13th save. Mason Barnett took the loss after allowing two runs over 3 1/3 innings. The finale still gives the Athletics a chance to end a stretch of 10 consecutive series without a victory.

The rubber match features Jeffrey Springs (3-9, 5.96 ERA, 86 strikeouts) for the Athletics against Joe Ryan (6-6, 3.38 ERA, 131 strikeouts) for Minnesota, with first pitch scheduled for 11:10 a.m. Pacific.

Costa Rican-born Mauricio Segura has been covering sports in the Bay Area since 2001 for a variety of magazines and newspapers, as well as his own publication, Golden Bay Times.

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