A disappointing loss in their most recent game prevented the Minnesota Twins from taking over first place in the AL Central. They still might have another chance if they can salvage a series split with the host Oakland Athletics on Sunday afternoon.
All-Star closer Joe Nathan blew his fifth save of the season after throwing wildly to third base after fielding a bunt in the bottom of ninth inning that allowed two runs to score in Minnesota's 3-2 loss at Oakland on Saturday night.The loss was particularly tough for the Twins (76-60), who had a chance to move into first place in the division after Chicago fell at Boston earlier Saturday for its third straight loss. Minnesota, instead, remained one-half game back of the White Sox and dropped to 4-6 on a season-high 14-game road trip.
"You miss one play in a game and it's a tough loss," Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire said.
Rookie Denard Span hit a two-run homer and Delmon Young had three of the Twins' seven hits Saturday after they recorded 20 in a 12-2 win over the A's on Friday. Young is 5-for-12 with a double in the series while hitting .313 (10-for-32) against Oakland (63-73) this season.
Scott Baker (7-4, 3.75 ERA) takes the mound for Minnesota after he allowed three runs and 10 hits over 6 2-3 innings Tuesday in a 3-2 loss at Seattle.
"I felt like I had pretty good stuff," Baker told the Twins' official Web site. "It basically comes down to executing pitches, some I executed and some I didn't."
The right-hander is 2-0 with a 4.09 ERA in two career starts versus Oakland.
The A's counter with Greg Smith (6-13, 3.90) as he hopes to bounce back after giving up five runs and 10 hits in six innings of a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. He is 1-7 with a 4.72 ERA in his last 10 starts.
"They hit pretty much everything I threw up there," Smith told the A's official Web site.
The left-hander, who is the first Oakland rookie to lose 13 games since Matt Keough lost 15 in 1978, allowed two runs in seven innings in an 11-2 loss April 24 in his only career appearance against Minnesota.
Bobby Crosby had two hits and started Oakland's ninth-inning rally with a single, while Jack Cust homered in his second straight contest for his 25th of the season, one of his career high set in 2007. The A's have won four of six.
Oakland's Frank Thomas missed Saturday's game and could be lost for the season after being placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right quadriceps. It's the second time this season the 40-year-old has been on the DL after missing 55 games with tendinitis in his right quad from May 28-July 30.
"He is going to get further tests soon," said Oakland manager Bob Geren of Thomas, who despite hitting .240 was 6-for-11 in his last three contests prior to the latest injury. "Being that's a similar feel and in the same spot, (being done for the season is) a possibility, yes."
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