Minnesota @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Aug 21, 2012 ) Minnesota 1, Oakland 4
The Oakland Athletics have closed within five games of division-leading Texas in the American League West as they prepare to host the Minnesota Twins in the rubber game of their series. While newly acquired Stephen Drew went hitless in his debut with Oakland, left-hander Brett Anderson provided an emotional boost in his return from Tommy John surgery, pitching seven strong innings to win for the first time in nearly 15 months. Seth Smith came off the disabled list and added two hits.
The Athletics have won five of six and are one-half game back of Baltimore for the second wild card spot. Minnesota, meanwhile, is mired in a slump that has produced 10 losses in 12 games. After winning the series opener 7-2, the Twins mustered very little offensively Tuesday - and one of their few threats was erased by a triple play. First baseman Justin Morneau had one of the team's four hits, stretching his hitting streak to 11 games.
TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Liam Hendriks (0-5, 7.04 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Tommy Milone (9-9, 4.03)
Hendriks will get a third chance this season to make an impression in Minnesota's rotation. His first two opportunities have been ugly: Hendriks has pitched at least six innings in only two of his eight starts and has been torched by the long ball, surrendering 10 home runs in 38 1/3 innings. The Australian is 0-7 in 12 career starts over the past two years.
Milone has been in a tailspin since blanking the New York Yankees over seven innings on July 20. He is 0-3 with a 7.50 ERA in his last four starts, giving up 21 runs in 24 innings, and remains winless since beating the Twins on July 14 in Minnesota. Milone was nearly unbeatable at home for much of the season, but is 0-2 in his last three starts at Oakland Coliseum.
WALK-OFFS
1. Minnesota did not strand a runner on base Tuesday, the first time it's happened since David Wells threw a perfect game against the Twins in May 1998.
2. Oakland 3B Josh Donaldson is batting .419 (13-for-31) with six RBIs in eight games since rejoining the club.
3. The Athletics turned their first triple play since 2000. It was the first time the Twins hit into one since Aug. 27, 2007.