AL: OAKLAND (44-45) at MINNESOTA (46-43) <h3>Santana aims for fifth straight win</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (44-45) at Minnesota (46-43) 8:10 pm EDT</div> MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Trying to begin his usual second-halfsurge, Johan Santana takes the mound for the Minnesota Twins onFriday against the Oakland Athletics. In his eight-year career, the reigning American League Cy YoungAward winner has been good in the first half with a 43-27 recordBut he becomes dominant once the All-Star break passes. Santana is a remarkable 45-10 in the second half of the season.That is bad news for the A's, who have been outscored, 24-6,during a four-game losing streak. Santana (10-6, 2.75 ERA) is looking for his fifth straight win.He is 4-0 with a 1.57 ERA in his last four outings. In his last outing, Santana allowed two runs and four hits overseven innings in beating the New York Yankees. Behind a 4-for-4 performance from Michael Cuddyer, the Twins posteda 6-2 victory over the Athletics on Thursday. Scott Baker alsoworked six strong innings. Santana will be opposed by fellow lefthander Lenny DiNardo (3-5,2.72), who has won just once in his last six starts.
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT MINNESOTA -- LINEUPS OAKLAND MINNESOTA AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Shannon Stewart LF .311 7 27 Luis Castillo 2B .301 0 14 Bobby Kielty RF .154 0 3 Jason Bartlett SS .254 2 24 Jack Cust DH .262 15 42 Joe Mauer C .306 4 37 Nick Swisher CF .264 11 46 Michael Cuddyer RF .283 10 54 Eric Chavez 3B .244 13 43 Justin Morneau 1B .296 24 75 Dan Johnson 1B .255 10 37 Torii Hunter CF .301 19 71 Mark Ellis 2B .263 8 41 Jason Kubel LF .247 7 37 Bobby Crosby SS .227 7 29 Jeff Cirillo DH .273 2 19 Jason Kendall C .225 2 21 Nick Punto 3B .212 1 15 Lenny Dinardo LHP (3-5, 2.72) Johan Santana LHP (10-6, 2.75)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA WARMUPS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO (3-5, 2.72) MIN - JOHAN SANTANA (10-6, 2.75) UMPIRES: HP - JIM REYNOLDS 1B - TIM WELKE 2B - LANCE BARKSDALE 3B - GARY CEDERSTROM WEATHER: INDOORS</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA STARTING BATS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO AND JASON KENDALL MIN - JOHAN SANTANA AND JOE MAUER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.311, 7 HR, 27 RBI) B KIELTY (.154, 0 HR, 3 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 1 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.301, 0 HR, 14 RBI) J BARTLETT (.254, 2 HR, 24 RBI) J MAUER (.306, 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 .310 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .148 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 3 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 J Bartlett ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254 J Mauer c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 J Cirillo dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 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 L DiNardo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2.71 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.73 Pitches-strikes: J Santana 16-13. Ground balls-fly balls: J Santana 0-0. Batters faced: J Santana 4. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA</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 2 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: E CHAVEZ (.244, 13 HR, 43 RBI) D JOHNSON (.255, 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 S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .148 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263 E Chavez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 D Johnson 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .255 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 B Crosby ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .227 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 4 0 1 0 0 3 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Crosby). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303 J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .305 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .300 J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 J Cirillo dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 4 0 2 0 2 0 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hunter 2. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 2.67 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 1 1 0 0 0 3 0 2.73 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 27-15; J Santana 16-13. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 1-1; J Santana 0-0. Batters faced: L DiNardo 6; J Santana 4. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. 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 2 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 2 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J KUBEL (.247, 7 HR, 37 RBI) J CIRILLO (.273, 2 HR, 19 RBI) N PUNTO (.212, 1 HR, 15 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .148 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 8 0 2 0 0 4 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Crosby). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303 J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .305 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .300 J Kubel lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .247 J Cirillo dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .273 N Punto 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 4 0 2 0 2 0 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hunter 2. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 1 2 0 0 2 0 0 2.67 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 2 2 0 0 0 4 0 2.71 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 27-15; J Santana 28-22. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 1-1; J Santana 1-1. Batters faced: L DiNardo 6; J Santana 8. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. 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 2 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J KENDALL (.225, 2 HR, 21 RBI) S STEWART (.310, 0-FOR-1) B KIELTY (.148, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .310 B Kielty rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .148 J Cust dh 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .266 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226 J Kendall c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .225 Totals 8 0 2 0 0 4 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Crosby). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303 J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .305 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .300 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 7 0 2 0 2 0 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hunter 2. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 2.63 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 2 2 0 0 0 4 0 2.71 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 41-25; J Santana 28-22. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 4-1; J Santana 1-1. Batters faced: L DiNardo 9; J Santana 8. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. 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 3 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 0 2 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.303, 1-FOR-1) J BARTLETT (.256, 1-FOR-1) J MAUER (.305, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309 B Kielty rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .179 J Cust dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .265 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 Totals 12 0 3 0 0 5 4 BATTING: Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Crosby). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .303 J Bartlett ss 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .256 J Mauer c 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .305 M Cuddyer rf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .283 J Morneau 1b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .296 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .300 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 7 0 2 0 2 0 5 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - T Hunter 2. Team LOB - 3. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 2.63 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 3 3 0 0 0 5 0 2.69 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 41-25; J Santana 44-33. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 4-1; J Santana 1-3. Batters faced: L DiNardo 9; J Santana 12. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">AL AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE GROUND OUT BY JOE MAUER SCORED LUIS CASTILLO. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BARTLETT ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0 MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 3RD DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.283, 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 0 3 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 1 1 4 0 (TOP 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.263, 0-FOR-1) E CHAVEZ (.243, 0-FOR-1) D JOHNSON (.258, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - END 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309 B Kielty rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .179 J Cust dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .265 N Swisher cf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .263 E Chavez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .262 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 Totals 12 0 3 0 0 5 4 BATTING: Team LOB - 3. FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Crosby). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .306 J Bartlett ss 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .259 J Mauer c 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .303 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .282 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .295 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .300 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 12 1 4 1 2 0 7 BATTING: 2B - L Castillo (9, L DiNardo). RBI - J Mauer (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, T Hunter 2. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 001 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 3 4 1 1 2 0 0 2.73 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 3 3 0 0 0 5 0 2.69 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 58-37; J Santana 44-33. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 6-2; J Santana 1-3. Batters faced: L DiNardo 14; J Santana 12. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. 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 0 3 0 MINNESOTA 0 0 1 1 4 0 (BOT 4) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - LENNY DINARDO MIN - JOHAN SANTANA DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: T HUNTER (.300, 0-FOR-1) J KUBEL (.246, 0-FOR-1) J CIRILLO (.271, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at MINNESOTA <div class="pre">OAKLAND (0) VS MINNESOTA (1) - MID 4TH - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .309 B Kielty rf 2 0 1 0 0 1 0 .179 J Cust dh 2 0 1 0 0 1 1 .265 N Swisher cf 2 0 0 0 0 2 1 .262 E Chavez 3b 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 .242 D Johnson 1b 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 .258 M Ellis 2b 2 0 0 0 0 1 2 .262 B Crosby ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .226 J Kendall c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .224 Totals 15 0 3 0 1 7 5 BATTING: Team LOB - 4. FIELDING: DP: 1 (B Crosby). MINNESOTA ab r h rbi bb so lob avg L Castillo 2b 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .306 J Bartlett ss 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 .259 J Mauer c 2 0 0 1 0 0 2 .303 M Cuddyer rf 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .282 J Morneau 1b 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 .295 T Hunter cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .300 J Kubel lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Cirillo dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .271 N Punto 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .211 Totals 12 1 4 1 2 0 7 BATTING: 2B - L Castillo (9, L DiNardo). RBI - J Mauer (38). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - J Morneau 1, T Hunter 2. Team LOB - 4. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 000 0 -- 0 MINNESOTA - 001 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 3 4 1 1 2 0 0 2.73 MINNESOTA ip h r er bb so hr era J Santana 4 3 0 0 1 7 0 2.66 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 58-37; J Santana 61-44. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 6-2; J Santana 2-3. Batters faced: L DiNardo 14; J Santana 16. UMPIRES: HP--Jim Reynolds. 1B--Tim Welke. 2B--Lance Barksdale. 3B--Gary Cederstrom. Weather: INDOORS.</div>
