AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE OAK: JOE KENNEDY (2-7, 4.44) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 3 DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.306, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Kennedy relieved A Embree. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 3 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L Castillo (.306, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY JOE MAUER SCORED LUIS CASTILLO. FINAL SCORE: MINNESOTA 4, OAKLAND 3</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 4 11 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - DAN HAREN, SANTIAGO CASILLA (7TH), ALAN EMBREE (8TH), JOE KENNEDY (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL, KURT SUZUKI (9TH) MIN - BOOF BONSER, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), DENNYS REYES (8TH), PAT NESHEK (9TH) AND MIKE REDMOND HOME RUNS: OAK - ERIC CHAVEZ (15) OFF BOOF BONSER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON MIN - JUSTIN MORNEAU (25) OFF SANTIAGO CASILLA IN THE 8TH, 0 ON</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 6 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 1 4 11 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - DAN HAREN, SANTIAGO CASILLA (7TH), ALAN EMBREE (8TH), JOE KENNEDY (9TH) AND JASON KENDALL, KURT SUZUKI (9TH) MIN - BOOF BONSER, MATT GUERRIER (7TH), DENNYS REYES (8TH), PAT NESHEK (9TH) AND MIKE REDMOND WP - PAT NESHEK (4-1) LP - JOE KENNEDY (2-8) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: OAK - ERIC CHAVEZ (15) OFF BOOF BONSER IN THE 4TH, 0 ON MIN - JUSTIN MORNEAU (25) OFF SANTIAGO CASILLA IN THE 8TH, 0 ON TIME: 3:06 ATT: 36,737 PROBABLES: DET - NATE ROBERTSON (5-6, 4.92) MIN - MATT GARZA (1-0, 0.00) PROBABLES: TEX - JAMEY WRIGHT (2-2, 5.55) OAK - DALLAS BRADEN (1-3, 6.08)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (3) VS MINNESOTA (4) - FINAL OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 5 0 1 2 0 3 2 .275 S Stewart lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .306 N Swisher 1b 2 0 0 0 2 1 1 .256 E Chavez 3b 4 1 2 1 0 0 2 .245 D Johnson dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .257 M Kotsay cf 2 1 1 0 2 0 1 .237 M Ellis 2b 4 0 0 0 0 3 4 .258 B Crosby ss 4 1 1 0 0 1 3 .222 J Kendall c 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .226 a-J Cust ph 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .258 K Suzuki pr-c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .269 Totals 31 3 6 3 6 10 17 a-walked for J Kendall in the 9th. BATTING: 2B - M Kotsay (9, B Bonser). HR - E Chavez (15, 4th inning off B Bonser 0 on, 0 Out). RBI - E Chavez (46), T Buck 2 (22). 2-out RBI - T Buck 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - B Crosby 1, T Buck 1. GIDP - D Johnson, E Chavez. Team LOB - 7. BASERUNNING: SB - B Crosby (8, 2nd base off M Guerrier/M Redmond), M Kotsay (1, 2nd base off P Neshek/M Redmond). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 4 1 1 0 1 0 1 .309 J Bartlett ss 4 0 1 0 1 0 2 .256 J Mauer dh 4 0 3 1 1 0 0 .312 M Cuddyer rf 3 0 0 0 1 2 3 .284 J Morneau 1b 4 1 1 1 0 0 5 .293 M Redmond c 4 1 2 0 0 0 1 .292 J Kubel lf 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .241 a-J Cirillo ph-3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .278 J Tyner cf 3 1 2 0 1 0 0 .284 N Punto 3b 3 0 1 2 0 1 1 .212 b-T Hunter ph 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 .300 L Ford lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 Totals 34 4 11 4 5 5 17 a-struck out swinging for J Kubel in the 8th; b-struck out swinging for N Punto in the 8th. BATTING: 2B - M Redmond (10, S Casilla). 3B - N Punto (3, D Haren); L Castillo (3, J Kennedy). HR - J Morneau (25, 8th inning off S Casilla 0 on, 1 Out). RBI - N Punto 2 (18), J Morneau (76), J Mauer (40). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 4, M Redmond 1, T Hunter 1, J Bartlett 1. Team LOB - 11. BASERUNNING: SB - J Mauer (6, 2nd base off D Haren/J Kendall). CS - J Tyner (2, 2nd base by D Haren/J Kendall). FIELDING: DP: 2 (L Castillo-J Bartlett-J Morneau 2). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 100 200 -- 3 MINNESOTA - 000 200 011 -- 4 No outs when winning run scored. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Haren 6 7 2 2 3 3 0 2.33 S Casilla (B, 1) 1 1/3 2 1 1 0 0 1 0.81 A Embree 2/3 0 0 0 1 2 0 4.05 J Kennedy (L, 2-8) 0 2 1 1 1 0 0 4.53 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era B Bonser 6 1/3 5 3 3 3 6 1 4.68 M Guerrier (B, 1) 2/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.63 D Reyes 1 0 0 0 2 1 0 3.57 P Neshek (W, 4-1) 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1.59 D Reyes pitched to 1 batter in the 9th. J Kennedy pitched to 3 batters in the 9th. WP - D Haren, P Neshek. Pitches-strikes: D Haren 108-64; S Casilla 23-14; A Embree 21-16; J Kennedy 14-6; B Bonser 101-66; M Guerrier 13-9; D Reyes 18-8; P Neshek 13-9. Ground balls-fly balls: D Haren 7-7; S Casilla 3-1; A Embree 0-0; J Kennedy 0-0; B Bonser 5-8; M Guerrier 1-0; D Reyes 2-0; P Neshek 1-0. Batters faced: D Haren 27; S Casilla 6; A Embree 3; J Kennedy 3; B Bonser 26; M Guerrier 3; D Reyes 4; P Neshek 4. UMPIRES: HP--Lance Barksdale. 1B--Gary Cederstrom. 2B--Jim Reynolds. 3B--Tim Welke. T--3:06. Att--36,737. Weather: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT MINNESOTA (4) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND 4TH: E Chavez homered to right center. D Johnson walked. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's choice to second, D Johnson out at second. M Ellis popped out to second. B Crosby flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 4TH: M Redmond singled to right. J Kubel flied out to left. J Tyner singled to center, M Redmond to second. N Punto tripled to right, M Redmond and J Tyner scored. L Castillo grounded out to first. J Bartlett grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 2. OAKLAND 7TH: M Kotsay walked. M Ellis struck out looking. B Crosby singled to right, M Kotsay to third. M Guerrier relieved B Bonser. J Kendall struck out swinging, B Crosby stole second. T Buck singled to center, M Kotsay and B Crosby scored. S Stewart grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, T Buck out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 8TH: M Cuddyer flied out to center. J Morneau homered to right. M Redmond doubled to deep right. A Embree relieved S Casilla. J Cirillo hit for J Kubel. J Cirillo struck out swinging. J Tyner walked. T Hunter hit for N Punto. T Hunter struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 3. MINNESOTA 9TH: K Suzuki catching. J Kennedy relieved A Embree. L Castillo tripled to deep center. J Bartlett walked. J Bartlett to second on fielder's indifference. J Mauer singled to center, L Castillo scored. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 4.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (3) AT MINNESOTA (4) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland Starting Lineups -- T Buck RF, S Stewart LF, N Swisher 1B, E Chavez 3B, D Johnson DH, M Kotsay CF, M Ellis 2B, B Crosby SS, J Kendall C, D Haren RHP. Minnesota Starting Lineups -- L Castillo 2B, J Bartlett SS, J Mauer DH, M Cuddyer RF, J Morneau 1B, M Redmond C, J Kubel LF, J Tyner CF, N Punto 3B, B Bonser RHP. Umpires -- Lance Barksdale (HP), Gary Cederstrom (1B), Jim Reynolds (2B), Tim Welke (3B). Gametime Weather: INDOORS. OAKLAND 1ST: T Buck struck out swinging. S Stewart grounded out to third. N Swisher walked. E Chavez popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 1ST: L Castillo walked. J Bartlett flied out to center. J Mauer singled to left, L Castillo to second. L Castillo to third, J Mauer to second on wild pitch by D Haren. M Cuddyer struck out swinging. J Morneau grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. OAKLAND 2ND: D Johnson flied out to left. M Kotsay doubled to deep center. M Ellis struck out swinging. B Crosby popped out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 2ND: M Redmond lined out to left. J Kubel flied out to left. J Tyner grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. OAKLAND 3RD: J Kendall grounded out to second. T Buck struck out swinging. S Stewart singled to center. N Swisher struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 3RD: N Punto struck out swinging. L Castillo fouled out to left. J Bartlett reached on infield single to second. J Mauer singled to right, J Bartlett to third. J Mauer stole second. M Cuddyer walked. J Morneau grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, MINNESOTA 0. OAKLAND 4TH: E Chavez homered to right center. D Johnson walked. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's choice to second, D Johnson out at second. M Ellis popped out to second. B Crosby flied out to right. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 0. MINNESOTA 4TH: M Redmond singled to right. J Kubel flied out to left. J Tyner singled to center, M Redmond to second. N Punto tripled to right, M Redmond and J Tyner scored. L Castillo grounded out to first. J Bartlett grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 2. OAKLAND 5TH: J Kendall lined out to second. T Buck struck out swinging. S Stewart flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 5TH: J Mauer walked. M Cuddyer struck out looking. J Morneau grounded out to first, J Mauer to second. M Redmond flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 2. OAKLAND 6TH: N Swisher popped out to second. E Chavez reached on infield single to shortstop. D Johnson grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, E Chavez out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 6TH: J Kubel grounded out to second. J Tyner singled to right. N Punto flied out to left. J Tyner caught stealing second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, MINNESOTA 2. OAKLAND 7TH: M Kotsay walked. M Ellis struck out looking. B Crosby singled to right, M Kotsay to third. M Guerrier relieved B Bonser. J Kendall struck out swinging, B Crosby stole second. T Buck singled to center, M Kotsay and B Crosby scored. S Stewart grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, T Buck out at second. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 7TH: S Casilla relieved D Haren. L Castillo grounded out to second. J Bartlett grounded out to first. J Mauer grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 2. OAKLAND 8TH: D Reyes relieved M Guerrier. N Swisher walked. E Chavez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, N Swisher out at second. D Johnson struck out looking. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 2. MINNESOTA 8TH: M Cuddyer flied out to center. J Morneau homered to right. M Redmond doubled to deep right. A Embree relieved S Casilla. J Cirillo hit for J Kubel. J Cirillo struck out swinging. J Tyner walked. T Hunter hit for N Punto. T Hunter struck out swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 3. OAKLAND 9TH: J Cirillo at third base. L Ford in left field. M Kotsay walked. P Neshek relieved D Reyes. M Ellis struck out swinging. B Crosby struck out swinging, M Kotsay stole second. J Cust hit for J Kendall. J Cust walked. M Kotsay to third on wild pitch by P Neshek. K Suzuki ran for J Cust. T Buck grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 3. MINNESOTA 9TH: K Suzuki catching. J Kennedy relieved A Embree. L Castillo tripled to deep center. J Bartlett walked. J Bartlett to second on fielder's indifference. J Mauer singled to center, L Castillo scored, J Bartlett to third. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, MINNESOTA 4.</div>
Morneau ties it, Mauer wins it as Twins top A's <h3>MINNESOTA 4, OAKLAND 3</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Justin Morneau hit a game-tying homerin the eighth inning and Joe Mauer hit a walk-off single in theninth as the Minnesota Twins completed a four-game series sweepof the Oakland Athletics with a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon. Nick Punto drove in two runs for the Twins (49-43), whocompleted their fifth series sweep this season - their first ina four-game set - and improved to a season-high six games over.500. Minnesota, which climbed to 5 1/2 games behind the ALCentral-leading Detroit Tigers (53-36), will host a three-gameseries with the Tigers after a day off on Monday. Trailing by a run with one out and nobody on in the eighth,Morneau blasted reliever Santiago Casilla's 3-2 pitchapproximately 406 feet to left field to tie the game, 3-3. Thehome run made up for the six runners he left on base in hisprevious three at-bats. One inning later, Luis Castillo tripled to lead off the frameagainst Joe Kennedy (2-8). Jason Bartlett then walked and tooksecond on defensive indifference, setting up Mauer's ground ballsingle through the middle to win it. Oakland took the lead after three scoreless innings when EricChavez led off the fourth inning with his third homer in thelast five games. But A's starter Dan Haren gave the lead right back in the bottomhalf as Punto hit a one-out triple down the right-field line toscore Mike Redmond and Jason Tyner, who had both singled. Punto was stranded at third, however, the fifth of six Twinsthrough six innings to be left in scoring position. Starter Boof Bonser kept Minnesota in the game, allowing onlyone baserunner besides Chavez as far as second base through sixframes. Bonser struggled in the seventh, walking Mark Kotsay tostart the inning and giving up a one-out single to BobbyCrosby, putting runners on the corners. Reliever Matt Guerrier struck out Jason Kendall but gave up atwo-run single to Travis Buck after Crosby stole second base onKendall's strikeout. The runs were charged to Bonser. Bonser, whose last win came on June 10, allowed three runs andfive hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.Three relievers combined to toss the final three innings,including Pat Neshek (4-1), who pitched a scoreless ninth topick up the win. Haren allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings but failedto earn a win in consecutive starts for the first time sincepicking up no decisions on May 9 and 14. Oakland (44-48) has lost a season-high seven straight games andis a season-worst four games below .500.
Morneau ties it, Mauer wins it as Twins top A's <h3>MINNESOTA 4, OAKLAND 3</h3>MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Justin Morneau hit a game-tying homerin the eighth inning and Joe Mauer hit a walk-off single in theninth as the Minnesota Twins completed a four-game series sweepof the Oakland Athletics with a 4-3 victory on Sunday afternoon. Nick Punto drove in two runs for the Twins (49-43), whocompleted their fifth series sweep this season - their first ina four-game set - and improved to a season-high six games over.500. Minnesota, which climbed to 5 1/2 games behind the ALCentral-leading Detroit Tigers (53-36), will host a three-gameseries with the Tigers after a day off on Monday. "It's feeling like last year at this time, coming up with bighits," Punto said, referring to the Twins' second-half surge towin the division in 2006. "Hopefully, we can get on some sortof roll like we did last year. "We expect to make the playoffs. That's just how we are." Trailing by a run with one out and nobody on in the eighth,Morneau blasted reliever Santiago Casilla's 3-2 pitchapproximately 406 feet to left field to tie the game, 3-3. Thehome run made up for the six runners he left on base in hisprevious three at-bats. One inning later, Luis Castillo tripled to lead off the frameagainst Joe Kennedy (2-8). Jason Bartlett then walked and tooksecond on defensive indifference, setting up Mauer's ground ballsingle through the middle to win it. Castillo's triple was his second in as many games, and theveteran with aching knees pumped his fist and shouted toward theTwins dugout after sliding in without a play. "He'll look like he can't move, then he'll steal second,"Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said. "When he has to turn iton, he turns it on. Then he gets up and acts like he has tocome out again." Oakland took the lead after three scoreless innings when EricChavez led off the fourth inning with his third homer in thelast five games. But A's starter Dan Haren gave the lead right back in the bottomhalf as Punto hit a one-out triple down the right-field line toscore Mike Redmond and Jason Tyner, who had both singled. Punto was stranded at third, however, the fifth of six Twinsthrough six innings to be left in scoring position. "He can always use his sinker or splitter to get a couple groundballs or a strikeout," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "That'swhy he's an All-Star pitcher." Starter Boof Bonser kept Minnesota in the game, allowing onlyone baserunner besides Chavez as far as second base through sixframes. Bonser struggled in the seventh, walking Mark Kotsay tostart the inning and giving up a one-out single to BobbyCrosby, putting runners on the corners. Reliever Matt Guerrier struck out Jason Kendall but gave up atwo-run single to Travis Buck after Crosby stole second base onKendall's strikeout. The runs were charged to Bonser. Bonser, whose last win came on June 10, allowed three runs andfive hits with six strikeouts and three walks in 6 1/3 innings.Three relievers combined to toss the final three innings,including Pat Neshek (4-1), who pitched a scoreless ninth topick up the win. "I was able to locate fastballs and offspeed stuff," Bonsersaid. "I can't complain. I had a couple mistakes here andthere, that's what hurt me." It was the fourth straight solid start for the Twins, who gotwins from all three of their starters in the first three gamesof the series. "It's about getting better as you go, and (Bonser) is makingstrides," Gardenhire said. "Every starter has stepped up andgiven us a good performance. We can have some fun in the secondhalf, if we pitch." Haren allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings but failedto earn a win in consecutive starts for the first time sincepicking up no decisions on May 9 and 14. Oakland (44-48) has lost a season-high seven straight games andis a season-worst four games below .500. "I've never been part of a losing team and I don't want to bepart of a losing team," Haren said. "No one wants to lose. Butwe obviously came in here and got our (tails) kicked for fourgames. "We can go two ways - we can put our heads down and call it aseason or we can fight back and try to get back in this thing.It's the time of year we have to turn things around, becausetime is running out."
