OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics’ Kevin Smith #1 strikes out swinging against Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Griffin Jax #65 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND — The A’s offense struggled again Monday night in their series opener against the Twins as they lost 3-1 at the Coliseum.
Oakland managed one run off veteran starter Chris Archer, then couldn’t get anything going against three relievers over five innings in its 15th game of one or zero runs. The A’s are now batting .199 on the season, becoming the first team since the 1910 White Sox to be batting below .200 after 38 games.
A’s starter Zach Logue (2-2) gave up runs in the third and fifth — both scored by Royce Lewis. Lewis, in his 10th major league game after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, came around to score on RBI singles by Jorge Polanco and Byron Buxton.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Zach Logue throws in the first inning of their MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Between the scores, Elvis Andrus smacked a fourth-inning double off Archer that scored Seth Brown.
Gary Sanchez launched a towering 433-foot drive to center field for his third homer of the season leading off the sixth against Domingo Acevedo, making it 3-1.
The A’s couldn’t solve Yennier Cano (1-0), who earned the first win of his career with two scoreless innings. Griffin Jax then followed with two shutout frames of his own and Tyler Duffey worked the ninth for his fifth career save and first this season.
The Twins followed up a sweep at home against the A’s with a victory in the opener of this series for their first four-game winning streak in a single season against Oakland since 2007. Minnesota allowed just five runs in the four games.
Logue allowed two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics’ Seth Brown #15 scores past Minnesota Twins catcher Gary Sanchez #24 on an RBI double by Elvis Andrus #17 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
BRIGHT SPOT
One of the only bright spots for the A’s was the play of Andrus. He hit the RBI double in the fourth and then made a diving stop and throw to first to rob Gio Urshela of a hit and save at least a run. He’s raised his batting average 30 points in the last week to .219 by hitting safely in four of his last five games.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: INF Sheldon Neuse (groin tightness) was held out of the lineup for a second straight day but was available off the bench. … C Stephen Vogt (right knee) took batting practice, ran and caught before the game as he returned to baseball activity for the first time since time since going on the injured list April 21.
Twins: Kyle Garlick was activated after missing 13 games with a right calf strain. Garlick was in the lineup as the DH and batted third. OF Mark Contreras was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to make room on the roster. … Manager Rocco Baldelli said he expects SS Carlos Correa (bruised right middle finger) to be activated from the injured list during this series.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics right fielder Ramon Laureano #22 and center fielder Cristian Pache #20 field a double by Minnesota Twins’ Gary Sanchez #24 in the fourth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
UP NEXT
RHP James Kaprielian (0-2, 4.97) is scheduled to start for the A’s. RHP Dylan Bundy (3-2, 5.76 ERA) is expected to be activated to start Tuesday for Minnesota after a bout with COVID-19. Bundy last pitched on May 4 at Baltimore.
With a loss, the A’s would drop their first series against the Twins in Oakland since being swept in a two-game set in May 2011. They have won their last 10 series hosting Minnesota.
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis #23 is safe at home on an RBI double by Jorge Polanco #11 as Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy #12 awaits the throw in the third inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Jorge Polanco #11 celebrates his RBI double off as Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Zach Logue #67 in the third inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics’ Elvis Andrus #17 watches the flight of his RBI double off Minnesota Twins’ starting pitcher Chris Archer #17 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis #23 celebrates after scoring on an RBI double by Jorge Polanco #11 in the third inning of their MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics’ Seth Brown #15 is congratulated after scoring on an RBI double by Elvis Andrus #17 in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Chris Archer #17 throws against the Oakland Athletics in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Zach Logue #67 is removed from the game by manager Mark Kotsay in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Byron Buxton #25 watches the flight of his RBI single off Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Zach Logue #67 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Royce Lewis #23 is congratulated after scoring on an RBI single by Byron Buxton #25 in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lou Trivino #62 throws against the Minnesota Twins in the eighth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. Attendance was once again light at the ballpark. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Gary Sanchez #24 is congratulated by third base coach Tommy Watkins #40 after hitting a solo home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Domingo Acevedo #68 in the sixth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Domingo Acevedo #68 walks back to the mound after giving up a solo home run to Minnesota Twins’ Gary Sanchez #24 in the sixth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins’ Gary Sanchez #24 is congratulated by center fielder Gilberto Celestino #67 after hitting a solo home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Domingo Acevedo #68 in the sixth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics fans hold a “Stay & Sell” sign in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Oakland Athletics’ Sean Murphy #12 reacts after a checked swing in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. To the left is Minnesota Twins catcher Gary Sanchez #24. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Tyler Duffey #65 and catcher Gary Sanchez #24 celebrate their 3-1 MLB win over the Oakland Athletics MLB at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Minnesota Twins second baseman Jorge Polanco #11 and shortstop Royce Lewis #23 celebrate their 3-1 MLB win over the Oakland Athletics MLB at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group) OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – MAY 16: Former New York Yankees center fielder Bernie Williams plays the national anthem before the Oakland Athletics MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 16, 2022. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
