Good riddance to the pesky Oakland A’s.
The A’s and Twins fought like hell over this four-game series, and just when it looked like the Twins might finally get an easy win on Sunday, the A’s had other ideas.
The Twins scored four runs early before the A’s added two in the top of the fifth inning. The Twins responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning and extended the lead to 5-2.
But the A’s reeled off four runs late to take a 6-5 lead going into the ninth inning. They didn’t score in the top half of the inning, but the Twins did in the bottom half. Ehire Adrianza tripled to right to score Luis Arraez and tie the game, then Max Kepler played hero by hitting a single to left center for the 7-6, walk-off win.
For the Twins, it was the club’s 60th win of the season. The team is now 60-38 going into a three-game series with the New York Yankees. The Cleveland Indians also won on Sunday so the Twins’ AL Central lead still stands at three games. The Yanks come to town, while the Tribe hit the road to play the Toronto Blue Jays. Please play spoiler, Toronto.
Martin Perez gets the ball on Monday.
Extra innings…
-The pitching win on Sunday went to reliever Kohl Stewart, who walked one and stuck out two in an inning of work. Michael Pineda got the start and didn’t pitch that poorly — he struck out eight over five-plus innings — but he also walked five batters and threw 109 pitches.
-Thank goodness for Kepler, Adrianza and Arraez. They had nine of the Twins’ 13 hits on Sunday. Kepler also hit his team-leading 24th home run.
-Reliever Trevor May had another rough outing. He allowed three runs (two earned) with three walks and three strikeouts.
-The Twins are shorthanded in the bullpen after the club previously designated three for assignment, and all three (Adalberto Mejia, Mike Morin and Matt Magill) have wound up on new teams. For Morin and Magill, the Twins received cash considerations, according to MLB Trade Rumors.
-Although shorthanded, the Twins sent reliever Zack Littell back to Triple-A Rochester after his appearance on Sunday so the Twins could have a fresh arm in the bullpen for the upcoming series with the Yanks.