OAKLAND, CA — Shea Langeliers hit a two-run homer off Jhoan Duran in the eighth inning to give the Oakland Athletics a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Tyler Soderstrom added two hits and three RBI for the A’s, which have won three of four since a season-high nine-game losing streak. With this win, Auckland ended its 10-month losing streak.
“That’s the kind of group this is,” Langeliers said. “Most of these guys were here last year and had a tough season. As they go through something like that, the two become closer. We just really want to fight for each other.”
Sean Newcomb (1-0) came into relief against Willi Castro with two outs in the eighth inning. On a 1-1 count by Castro, Newcomb singled out Austin Martin to end the inning. The Athletics said it was the first time in team history that a pitcher won without officially facing a batter.
Mason Miller came on for Oakland in the 9th inning and recorded his 14th save, sealing Newcomb’s rare victory.
Minnesota fell behind 4-1 ahead of Royce Lewis’ solo home run in the 6th inning and Castro’s go-ahead 3-run shot in the 7th. It was Castro’s first home run at Target Field in Minnesota since May 21.
“We found a way to put some energy back into the game,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “Willie hit the jackpot and we took the lead like we’ve done a few times. We’ve done this at home recently and it was OK. We hung in there.
“The game definitely turned around in the 8th inning.”
Even when his team fell behind, A’s coach Mark Courtsey said his team was confident.
“There was still a good feeling in the dugout that we were going to win that game,” Kotsay said.
Soderstrom began the A’s comeback when he was hit by a pitch from Duran (3-3) in the top of the eighth inning. Langeliers, who had the third-worst on-base percentage in baseball, threw a huge drive into the stands as Twins left fielder Trevor Larnach turned and watched.
“Clearly (Duran’s) product is next level,” Langeliers said. “I tried to reduce my area as much as possible, get the ball I could handle, and do an ‘A’ swing. “You have to be aggressive against a guy like that from the beginning,” he said.
The Twins were forced to lean on their bullpen after starter Chris Paddack failed to make it through five innings in his second straight start. Paddack, who has one win in his last eight starts, allowed five hits and three runs over 4 2/3 innings.
“He fought the whole outing,” Baldelli said. “I would say he did his best at his job. “I ran out of some of his stuff today.”
The A’s put runners on base in three of the first four innings, but only one went beyond the second inning.
Soderstrom hit an RBI single off Paddack in the first inning and a two-run double off Kody Funderburk in the fifth.
Minnesota’s Carlos Santana went 1-for-4 with a double and a double in his 2,000th career major league game.
trainer’s room
Twins: RHP Jay Jackson was assigned to space Funderburk.
Athletics: OF Abraham Toro left with a hamstring injury, and Kotsay said he would likely be placed on the injured list in the coming days. … RHP Osvaldo Bido was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas. … Rookie RHP Vinny Nittoli was designated for assignment.
next
A’s LHP JP Sears (4-6, 4.25 ERA) is scheduled to make his 16th start of the season on Saturday. He is the only Oakland pitcher who has not missed a start this season. The Twins plan to sign RHP Bailey Ober (6-4, 4.81 ERA), who has a 1.045 OPS in five career games with the A’s.
__
APMLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
