AL: OAKLAND (44-46) at MINNESOTA (47-43) <h3>Twins look for third straight win vs. Athletics</h3> Oakland (44-46) at Minnesota (47-43) 7:10 pm EDT MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - The Minnesota Twins cruised to theirsecond straight win after the All-Star break on the strength oface Johan Santana. Now, they hope to keep it going behindCarlos Silva. The Twins aim for another victory over the Oakland Athleticswhen the clubs face off in the third contest of a four-game seton Saturday night. Santana hurled seven scoreless innings and Luis Castillo drovein two runs to lead the Twins to a 5-3 victory over the OaklandAthletics on Friday night. Santana improved to an astonishing 41-4 after the All-Star Gamesince 2003, allowing just four hits while striking out eight andwalking one. The two-time American League Cy Young Awardwinner has earned the win in each of his last five starts,posting a 1.03 ERA during that stretch. It has not been as easy for Silva (6-10, 4.58 ERA), who yieldedsix runs - five earned - in five innings, allowing three homers,while striking out one and walking none in a 6-3 loss at theChicago White Sox last Sunday. The righthander has dropped five of his last eight starts. He will be opposed by Joe Blanton (8-5, 3.28), who yielded sixruns - five earned - and 12 hits in six innings in a 7-3 loss tothe Seattle Mariners last Sunday. His outing ended abruptlywhen he was ejected after shoving Ichiro Suzuki as he tried toretrieve a ball near home plate. The Athletics have lost seven of their last nine games.
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS OAKLAND MINNESOTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Travis Buck LF .283 6 20 Luis Castillo 2B .307 0 16 Nick Swisher RF .261 11 46 Jason Bartlett SS .256 2 24 Jack Cust DH .262 15 42 Joe Mauer C .300 4 38 Eric Chavez 3B .244 14 45 Michael Cuddyer RF .287 10 54 Dan Johnson 1B .256 10 37 Justin Morneau DH .294 24 75 Mark Ellis 2B .263 8 41 Torii Hunter CF .301 19 71 Mark Kotsay CF .231 1 13 Garrett Jones 1B .250 0 0 Bobby Crosby SS .224 7 29 Jason Tyner LF .268 0 14 Kurt Suzuki C .304 2 4 Nick Punto 3B .213 1 16 Joe Blanton RHP (8-5, 3.28) Carlos Silva RHP (6-10, 4.58)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA WARMUPS: OAK - JOE BLANTON (8-5, 3.28) MIN - CARLOS SILVA (6-10, 4.58) UMPIRES: HP - TIM WELKE 1B - LANCE BARKSDALE 2B - GARY CEDERSTROM 3B - JIM REYNOLDS WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA STARTING BATS: OAK - JOE BLANTON AND KURT SUZUKI MIN - CARLOS SILVA AND JOE MAUER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: T BUCK (.283, 6 HR, 20 RBI) N SWISHER (.261, 11 HR, 46 RBI) J CUST (.262, 15 HR, 42 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.307, 0 HR, 16 RBI) J BARTLETT (.256, 2 HR, 24 RBI) J MAUER (.300, 4 HR, 38 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .287 J Morneau dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.28 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.54 Pitches-strikes: C Silva 15-8. Ground balls-fly balls: C Silva 0-1. Batters faced: C Silva 3. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Jim Reynolds. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.244, 14 HR, 45 RBI) D JOHNSON (.256, 10 HR, 37 RBI) M ELLIS (.263, 8 HR, 41 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Kotsay cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .231 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 2 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. FIELDING: E - B Crosby (13, ground ball). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 J Morneau dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213 Totals 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - L Castillo (8, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.26 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 1 0 0 0 0 2 0 4.54 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 15-10; C Silva 15-8. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 0-3; C Silva 0-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 4; C Silva 3. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Jim Reynolds. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY MARK KOTSAY SCORED ERIC CHAVEZ. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D JOHNSON ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B CROSBY (.224, 7 HR, 29 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 1 1 1 1 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.294, 24 HR, 75 RBI) T HUNTER (.301, 19 HR, 71 RBI) G JONES (.250, 0 HR, 0 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 E Chavez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .229 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .223 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 Totals 6 1 1 1 1 2 1 BATTING: S - M Ellis. RBI - M Kotsay (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Crosby 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - B Crosby (13, ground ball). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 J Morneau dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .294 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 G Jones 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 J Tyner lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .268 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .213 Totals 4 0 0 0 0 0 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - L Castillo (8, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 01 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.26 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 4.58 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 15-10; C Silva 33-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 0-3; C Silva 3-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 4; C Silva 8. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Jim Reynolds. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY JASON TYNER SCORED JUSTIN MORNEAU. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J TYNER ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: N PUNTO (.213, 1 HR, 16 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 1 1 1 2 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.304, 2 HR, 4 RBI) T BUCK (.282, 0-FOR-1) N SWISHER (.260, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .282 N Swisher rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 E Chavez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .229 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .223 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .304 Totals 6 1 1 1 1 2 1 BATTING: S - M Ellis. RBI - M Kotsay (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Crosby 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - B Crosby (13, ground ball); N Swisher (1, bobble). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 J Morneau dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 G Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .231 J Tyner lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .273 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .213 Totals 9 1 2 1 0 0 5 BATTING: RBI - J Tyner (15). 2-out RBI - J Tyner. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - L Castillo (8, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki), J Morneau (1, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 01 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.30 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 2 1 1 1 1 2 0 4.58 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 24-17; C Silva 33-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-5; C Silva 3-1. Batters faced: J Blanton 9; C Silva 8. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Jim Reynolds. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 1 0 1 1 2 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.306, 0-FOR-1) J BARTLETT (.255, 0-FOR-1) J MAUER (.299, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .280 N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 E Chavez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .229 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .223 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 Totals 9 1 1 1 1 2 1 BATTING: S - M Ellis. RBI - M Kotsay (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Crosby 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - B Crosby (13, ground ball); N Swisher (1, bobble). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 J Bartlett ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .255 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .299 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .286 J Morneau dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 G Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .231 J Tyner lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .273 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .213 Totals 9 1 2 1 0 0 5 BATTING: RBI - J Tyner (15). 2-out RBI - J Tyner. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - L Castillo (8, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki), J Morneau (1, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 010 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 01 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 2 2 1 1 0 0 0 3.30 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 4.54 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 24-17; C Silva 39-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 1-5; C Silva 5-2. Batters faced: J Blanton 9; C Silva 11. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Jim Reynolds. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY MICHAEL CUDDYER SCORED JASON BARTLETT. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J MAUER ON FIRST, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.296, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 1 0 1 1 2 MINNESOTA 0 1 1 2 4 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - JOE BLANTON MIN - CARLOS SILVA DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.261, 0-FOR-1) E CHAVEZ (.244, 0-FOR-0, BB) D JOHNSON (.259, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (1) VS MINNESOTA (2) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .280 N Swisher rf 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .259 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .261 E Chavez 3b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .259 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 .229 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .223 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .292 Totals 9 1 1 1 1 2 1 BATTING: S - M Ellis. RBI - M Kotsay (14). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Crosby 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - B Crosby (13, ground ball); N Swisher (1, bobble). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 J Bartlett ss 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .258 J Mauer c 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 .302 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 .286 J Morneau dh 2 1 1 0 0 0 1 .295 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .300 G Jones 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .231 J Tyner lf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .273 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .213 Totals 13 2 4 2 0 0 7 BATTING: SF - M Cuddyer. RBI - J Tyner (15), M Cuddyer (55). 2-out RBI - J Tyner. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Cuddyer 1. Team LOB - 3. BASERUNNING: SB - L Castillo (8, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki), J Morneau (1, 2nd base off J Blanton/K Suzuki). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 010 -- 1 MINNESOTA - 011 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era J Blanton 3 4 2 2 0 0 0 3.34 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era C Silva 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 4.54 Pitches-strikes: J Blanton 40-28; C Silva 39-21. Ground balls-fly balls: J Blanton 2-7; C Silva 5-2. Batters faced: J Blanton 14; C Silva 11. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Welke. 1B--Lance Barksdale. 2B--Gary Cederstrom. 3B--Jim Reynolds. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
