Twins' Win Streak Ends With Loss To Athletics
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Erwin Santana gave up a leadoff home run to Coco Crisp but then settled in and pitched effectively. The offense never did get it going and that spelled the end of a four-game winning streak.
Santana turned in a quality start but Oakland starter Kendall Graveman did him one better as the Athletics extended their win streak to three, beating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 on Monday.
"Not a lot offensively for us," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. It's a little disappointing, considering the matchup on paper and how we were swinging the bats. Once they got the lead, their bullpen did a great job of shutting us down."
Juan Centenio singled in a run to tie the game in the second and Brian Dozier's sacrifice fly put the Twins ahead in the fifth.
Khris Davis hit a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the sixth after Marcus Semien doubled in a run in the fifth.
The Twins had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh. Dozier struck out and Joe Mauer drilled a low liner that Yonder Alfonso speared to end the inning.
"As little as we did offensively, we were a couple of inches away from taking the lead," Molitor said. "Alfonso made a really nice play."
All of the A's runs came off Santana, who had only lost twice in 12 previous career starts at the Coliseum. Santana (1-4) gave up seven hits in seven innings with five strikeouts.
Crisp hit his fifth home run this season on the second pitch from Santana, the 16th leadoff homer of his career.
Graveman (2-6) allowed two runs and six hits for his first win since April 20. The right-hander struck out five and walked three.
John Axford, Sean Doolittle and Ryan Madson pitched the final three innings for Oakland. Madson retired three batters in the ninth for his 12th save.
SANTANA STRAIN MEANS DL
Twins outfielder Danny Santana was placed on the 15-day disabled list following the game, with a left hamstring strain. It's the same injury that landed him on the DL last month.
"When I went from first to third, that's when I felt it," Santana said. "It's the same leg. It sucks. You don't want this to happen to anybody."
The Twins will recall OF Byron Buxton, who is expected to be in time to play Tuesday night in Oakland.
NEAR MISS
A's right fielder Chris Coghlan made a tremendous catch in the fifth after colliding with Crisp while both men were chasing down Dozier's sacrifice fly. Coghlan took the brunt of the collision that sent him crashing into the outfield wall as well. Both men were checked out by a team trainer and stayed in the game.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Twins: OF Danny Santana singled in the seventh but left the game with a strained left hamstring. . Right-hander Kyle Gibson will come off the disabled list to start Thursday's home game against Tampa Bay. RHP Phil Hughes will move to the bullpen when Gibson returns to the rotation. ... Trevor Plouffe (bruised knee) worked out before the game then came in as a pinch-runner in the seventh.
Athletics: Rich Hill, who left Sunday's game in the seventh inning due to a groin strain, has not been ruled out from making his next start. Hill is sore, according to manager Bob Melvin and could get an extra day of rest. . RHP Henderson Alvarez (shoulder) threw off flat ground before the game and will next throw off the mound in the bullpen.
UP NEXT
Twins: RHP Tyler Duffy (2-3) pitches the second game of the series in his first career start. Duffy is the only Minnesota starter with more than one win.
Athletics: LHP Eric Surkamp (0-3) will be called up from Triple-A Nashville to start against Minnesota. It will be Surkamp's third stint with the big league club and his first career start against the Twins.
(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
