Athletics bounce back to 6-5 victory over the Twins

Langeliers Homer, Miller Save seal the deal

The Oakland Athletics kicked off the final series of the current homestand tonight against the American League Central Minnesota Twins. The A’s sent 22-year-old righty Joey Estes to the mound tonight to face Chris Paddack for the Twins.

Willi Castro greeted Estes with a double to center field and was driven in on a ground out to second baseman Zack Gelof. But the A’s didn’t take that laying down. Abraham Toro led off with a base hit and moved to third on a JJ Bleday single. Miguel Andujar struck out swinging for the first out of the inning. Rooker popped up to the second baseman Willi Castro. Tyler Soderstrom singled to right field scoring Toro and recording his fourteenth RBI of the season. The game remained tied through four innings. With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Miguel Andujar singled, and moved to third when Brent Rooker singled to left field. That ended the night for Paddack. Tyler Soderstrom doubled on the first pitch from Twins reliever Kody Funderburk. That scored Andujar and Rooker easily. Then Shea Langeliers singled to score Soderstrom. At the end of five, the A’s had taken a 4-1 lead.

Royce Lewis homered in the bottom of the sixth off Estes to tighten the lead to 4-2. Joey Estes gave way to Austin Adams in the top of the seventh. Estes final line was six innings, five hits, two earned runs, one walk and one strikeout. Austin quickly blew Estes lead, after Vasquez singled, Martin walked, Willie Castro homered to deep right field to give the Twins a 5-4 lead. After a walk to Carlos Correa, Adams gave way to Lucas Erceg. He slammed the door on the rally and got out of the inning without any further damage. Erceg seemed to be cruising through his second inning of work, erasing the first two batters of the eight, but then singles by Christian Vasquez and Austin Martin brought out Mark Kotsay to make a switch to Sean Newcomb. A quick pick-off move nailed Austin Martin taking off for second to end the inning.

Twins closer Jhoan Duran entered the game in the bottom of the eighth for skipper Rocco Baldelli. He plunked Tyler Soderstrom, the first batter he faced. Shea Langeliers did not hesitate and hammered the first pitch he saw into the left field stands to give the A’s their lead back. It was Langeliers fourteenth homer of the year.

Max Schuemann lined a double off the right field wall. Tyler Nevin, a defensive replacement for leadoff batter Abraham Toro grounded out to end the inning.

Mason Miller entered the game in the top of the ninth to slam the door shut and ensure the victory. And that he did, making quick work of the top of the Twins order, 1-2-3 for his fourteenth save of the season.