AL: OAKLAND (44-44) at MINNESOTA (45-43) <h3>Gaudin goes for three in a row against Twins</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (44-44) at Minnesota (45-43) 8:10 pm EDT</div> MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Chad Gaudin hopes to record his third winin as many starts when the Oakland Athletics face the MinnesotaTwins in the opener of a four-game series Thursday. The 24-year-old Gaudin (8-3, 2.88 ERA) yielded two runs andeight hits with four walks and three strikeouts over 7 2/3innings in a 3-2 triumph against the Seattle Mariners lastThursday. The Athletics have failed to pick up a win since Gaudin's lastperformance, losing three straight entering the All-Star break. Oakland has been outscored, 18-4, on its current losing stretch. The Twins counter with Scott Baker (3-3, 5.71), who is coming offone of his worst outings of the season but still registered a win. The 25-year-old righthander was tagged for seven runs and ninehits with six strikeouts over five innings in a 20-14 victoryover the Chicago White Sox on Friday. After scoring 32 runs on Friday in a doubleheader, Minnesota washeld to just four runs over two straight losses entering thebreak.
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS OAKLAND MINNESOTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Shannon Stewart LF .309 7 26 Luis Castillo 2B .305 0 13 Mark Kotsay CF .230 1 12 Jason Bartlett SS .254 2 23 Nick Swisher RF .263 11 46 Joe Mauer C .309 4 37 Jack Cust DH .267 15 42 Michael Cuddyer RF .274 10 53 Eric Chavez 3B .247 13 43 Justin Morneau 1B .295 24 74 Dan Johnson 1B .260 10 37 Torii Hunter CF .301 19 69 Mark Ellis 2B .267 8 41 Jason Kubel LF .250 7 37 Bobby Crosby SS .226 7 29 Garrett Jones DH .125 0 0 Jason Kendall C .227 2 21 Nick Punto 3B .211 1 15 Chad Gaudin RHP (8-3, 2.88) Scott Baker RHP (3-3, 5.71)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA WARMUPS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (8-3, 2.88) MIN - SCOTT BAKER (3-3, 5.71) UMPIRES: HP - GARY CEDERSTROM 1B - JIM REYNOLDS 2B - TIM WELKE 3B - LANCE BARKSDALE WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA STARTING BATS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN AND JASON KENDALL MIN - SCOTT BAKER AND JOE MAUER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.309, 7 HR, 26 RBI) M KOTSAY (.230, 1 HR, 12 RBI) N SWISHER (.263, 11 HR, 46 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 1 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.305, 0 HR, 13 RBI) J BARTLETT (.254, 2 HR, 23 RBI) J MAUER (.309, 4 HR, 37 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 S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 N Swisher rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (21, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 1. Team LOB - 1. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .305 J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .309 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .295 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 G Jones dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 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 C Gaudin 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.88 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.60 Pitches-strikes: S Baker 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: S Baker 0-1. Batters faced: S Baker 4. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MICHAEL CUDDYER SCORED JASON BARTLETT. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CUDDYER ON FIRST, J MAUER ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.295, 24 HR, 74 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE BASES LOADED WALK TO TORII HUNTER SCORED JOE MAUER. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, T HUNTER ON FIRST, J MORNEAU ON SECOND, M CUDDYER ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 MINNESOTA 2 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.250, 7 HR, 37 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 1 0 MINNESOTA 2 2 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.247, 13 HR, 43 RBI) D JOHNSON (.260, 10 HR, 37 RBI) M ELLIS (.267, 8 HR, 41 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 N Swisher rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .260 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .267 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 2 1 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (21, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: PB - J Kendall. DP: 1 (C Gaudin-J Kendall-D Johnson). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .305 J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .253 J Mauer c 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .309 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .276 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .301 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .249 G Jones dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 3 2 1 2 4 0 4 BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (54), T Hunter (70). GIDP - J Kubel. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 1 1 2 2 4 0 0 3.02 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.60 IBB - J Morneau (by C Gaudin). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 31-12; S Baker 20-13. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 3-0; S Baker 0-1. Batters faced: C Gaudin 7; S Baker 4. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 0 0 1 0 MINNESOTA 2 2 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: G JONES (.125, 0 HR, 0 RBI) N PUNTO (.211, 1 HR, 15 RBI) L CASTILLO (.305, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (2) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 N Swisher rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 1 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (21, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: PB - J Kendall. DP: 1 (C Gaudin-J Kendall-D Johnson). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .305 J Bartlett ss 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 .253 J Mauer c 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .309 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 .276 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .295 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .301 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .249 G Jones dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .125 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 3 2 1 2 4 0 4 BATTING: RBI - M Cuddyer (54), T Hunter (70). GIDP - J Kubel. Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 1 1 2 2 4 0 0 3.02 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.50 IBB - J Morneau (by C Gaudin). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 31-12; S Baker 28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 3-0; S Baker 0-4. Batters faced: C Gaudin 7; S Baker 7. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY LUIS CASTILLO SCORED GARRETT JONES. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, N PUNTO ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 MINNESOTA 3 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J BARTLETT (.253, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY JASON BARTLETT SCORED NICK PUNTO. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, J BARTLETT ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 MINNESOTA 4 BOTTOM, 2ND DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MAUER (.309, 0-FOR-0, BB)</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 0 MINNESOTA 2 2 4 5 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: B CROSBY (.226, 7 HR, 29 RBI) J KENDALL (.227, 2 HR, 21 RBI) S STEWART (.308, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (4) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .308 M Kotsay cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .228 N Swisher rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 2 1 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (21, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 1. Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: PB - J Kendall. DP: 1 (C Gaudin-J Kendall-D Johnson). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 .304 J Bartlett ss 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .256 J Mauer c 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 .307 M Cuddyer rf 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .279 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .294 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .301 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .249 G Jones dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .222 N Punto 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .214 Totals 10 4 5 4 4 1 7 BATTING: 2B - N Punto (11, C Gaudin); M Cuddyer (16, C Gaudin). RBI - M Cuddyer (54), T Hunter (70), L Castillo (14), J Bartlett (24). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 2. GIDP - J Kubel. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 22 -- 4 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 2 5 4 4 4 1 0 3.15 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 5.50 IBB - J Morneau (by C Gaudin). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 66-36; S Baker 28-18. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 5-0; S Baker 0-4. Batters faced: C Gaudin 14; S Baker 7. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 0 0 0 2 0 MINNESOTA 2 2 4 5 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.301, 0-FOR-0, BB, RBI) J KUBEL (.249, 0-FOR-1) G JONES (.222, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (4) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .310 M Kotsay cf 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .227 N Swisher rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 J Cust dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .265 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 D Johnson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .226 Totals 11 0 2 0 0 2 2 BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (21, S Baker). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Cust 1. Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: PB - J Kendall. DP: 1 (C Gaudin-J Kendall-D Johnson). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 .304 J Bartlett ss 2 1 1 1 0 0 1 .256 J Mauer c 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 .307 M Cuddyer rf 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 .279 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 2 .294 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 .301 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .249 G Jones dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .222 N Punto 3b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .214 Totals 10 4 5 4 4 1 7 BATTING: 2B - N Punto (11, C Gaudin); M Cuddyer (16, C Gaudin). RBI - M Cuddyer (54), T Hunter (70), L Castillo (14), J Bartlett (24). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 2. GIDP - J Kubel. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 22 -- 4 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era C Gaudin 2 5 4 4 4 1 0 3.15 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era S Baker 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 5.40 IBB - J Morneau (by C Gaudin). Pitches-strikes: C Gaudin 66-36; S Baker 47-34. Ground balls-fly balls: C Gaudin 5-0; S Baker 0-7. Batters faced: C Gaudin 14; S Baker 11. UMPIRES: HP--Gary Cederstrom. 1B--Jim Reynolds. 2B--Tim Welke. 3B--Lance Barksdale. 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 0 0 0 2 0 MINNESOTA 2 2 0 4 5 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - CHAD GAUDIN MIN - SCOTT BAKER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.266, 1-FOR-1) J CUST (.265, 0-FOR-1) E CHAVEZ (.246, 0-FOR-1)</div>
