The left field lighting powered off during the fifth inning at the Oakland Coliseum causing a 24 minute and 47 seconds delay during the second game of a doubleheader between the Minnesota Twins and Oakland A’s at the Oakland Coliseum on Tue Apr 20, 2021 (AP News photo)
Minnesota 0 – 2 – 0
Oakland 1- 4 – 1
Game 2 of doubleheader
By Lewis Rubman
OAKLAND–A half and hour after Oakland A’s (11-7) pitcher Sean Manaea, Mitch Moreland, and Matt Olson demolished the Minnesota Twins (6-10) in a seven inning laugher, the A’s attempted to pull off a twin killing that would extend their winning streak to double figures and set them up for a series sweep tomorrow. in the opening game of today’s double header.
Minnesota, it goes without saying, was seeking to reverse its recent tailspin to that end sent two-time all star (2018 and2019) right hander to the mound. He brought a 2-1, 3.38 record with him. His most recent start was in the second game of a double header in Boston on April 14. He left with the game tied at 1-1 in the fifth but took the loss, and the Twins were swept.
Oakland sent Jesús Luzardo, who, at 0-1, 8.31, still was trying to reestablish the rhythms that had made him one the A’s brightest hopes for the near future.
The first three innings passed quickly and more or less uneventfully, but right fielder Seth Brown provided two highlights in the second that are worth mentioning. In the top of the frame, he made a spectular diving catch of a dying quail off the broken bat of Brent Rocker for the third out. Then, in Oakland’s half of the inning, Brown’s one out double moved Mitch Moreland to third for the Athletics’ first threat of the game.
Then, in the bottom of the fourth, it was Brown who drove in the game’s first run. Olson went opposite field against the shift to lead off with a double and moved on to third on Chapman’s fly to right. Following a walk to Moreland, Brown’s single produced a 1-0 lead for the A’s.
Moreland was called out at second by a pick off throw from Berríos, but home plate umpire Scott Barry ruled that time had been called before the play began. The reprive was, however, short lived. Elvis Andrus lined out to left, and Luis Arraez made a swift, accurate throw to Willians Astudillo at second to double off Moreland and put an end to the threat.
A light bank failure in left field with one out in the top of the fifth caused a delay of 24 minutes, 47 seconds. When play resumed, Luzardo didn’t miss a beat, striking out Brent Rocker and getting Estudillo to pop out to shallow right field, where second baseman Vimael Machín made a lovely over the head grab of the ball.
Berríos didn’t lose any effectiveness during the delay, either. He set the A’s down, 1-2-3, in the fifth, and the game remained tied at one. After a walk to Arraez and a strike out of Ryan Jefferson, Luzardo handed the ball over to Lou Trivino, who struck Garver for the second out.
During Garver’s AB, Arraez advanced to second on a passed ball. With the dangerous ex-Athletic Josh Donaldson at the plate, Trivino uncorked a wild pitch that brought Arraez within 90 feet of home. Trivino struck Donaldson out looking.
Luzardo’s line ended up at no runs over 5-1/3 innings, on two hits, one walk, and three strike outs. He threw 65 pditches, 44 for strikes and reduced his bloated ERA to 5.89.
The fifth was the final frame for Berríos, who was replaced by Hansel Robles. Minnesota’s starter had allowed an earned run on four hits and one walk. He struck out five Athletics and hit one of them, Canha. 59 of his 89 hits were strikes.
Melvin called on Jake Diekman to try for the save in the top of the seventh. He started off inauspiciouslly, hitting Nelson Cruz with a 2-2 delivery to open the inning. The count went to 2-2 on the following batter, Byron Buxton, who fanned.
Jorge Polanco hit a 2-2 pitch to short, where Andrus couldn’t handle it. The error put runners on first and second with one out. Diekman struck out Rocker on an 0-2, 95 mph four seamer. Then Astudilo drove a 1-2, 96 mph four seam fastball to the left field wall, where Canha made a leaping catch to give the Athletics their tenth consecutive win.
The W went to Luzardo; the gutsy save to Diekman, his first. The tough loss went to Berríos.
Tomorrow´s fray, scheduled for 12:37. Frankie Montás (2-1, 4.91) will face Kenta Maeda (1-1, 2.45) in the final game of the A’s current home stand.
