Shea Langeliers hit closer Jhoan Duran’s third pitch of the eighth inning for a go-ahead home run, Oakland closer Mason Miller pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and the Athletics opened a three-game home series by beating the Minnesota Twins 6-5 on Friday night.
The Twins, who were attempting to beat the A’s for a fifth consecutive time over the last nine days, rallied behind a home run by Royce Lewis in the sixth inning and a three-run shot by Willi Castro in the seventh to take a 5-4 lead.
Minnesota turned to Duran (3-3) in the eighth, but he hit Tyler Soderstrom with his second pitch. Langeliers then hit his 14th homer of the year on the next pitch.
Miller held the one-run advantage through a seven-pitch ninth, getting two grounders before striking out Trevor Larnach for his 14th save. Sean Newcomb (1-0), who got the final out of the eighth with two aboard, was credited with the win.
Soderstrom had a two-run double and Langeliers an RBI single in a three-run fifth that gave the A’s a 4-1 lead.
Lewis got the visitors within 4-2 in the sixth with a solo home run, his 10th blast in just 16 games this season. In doing so, he became the fastest to 10 homers in a season in Twins history, beating Eddie Rosario’s old mark by five games.
Minnesota then went in front in the seventh against A’s reliever Austin Adams after Christian Vazquez singled with one out and Austin Martin walked. Castro followed with his sixth homer of the season into the right field seats, putting the visitors on top 5-4.
A’s starter Joey Estes left with a 4-2 lead after allowing five hits in six innings. He walked one and struck out one.
The Twins’ Chris Paddack was pulled in Oakland’s three-run fifth, charged with three runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out three.
Langeliers and Soderstrom each had two hits and three RBIs for the A’s, who were swept in a four-game series in Minnesota last week.
Castro finished with a homer, double, three RBIs and two runs as the Twins lost their third straight. Vazquez and Martin also had a pair of hits apiece as Minnesota out-hit the hosts 10-9.
–Field Level Media
