Twins 4, A's 2
Danny Valencia's three-run homer broke a tie in the sixth inning in leading the Minnesota Twins to a 4-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Saturday afternoon.
The win reduced Minnesota's magic number to clinch its second straight American League Central title to six.
Starting pitchers Kevin Slowey and Dallas Braden were locked in a 1-1 tie when Joe Mauer led off the bottom of the sixth with a walk and Michael Cuddyer followed with a single. After Delmon Young flied out, Valencia homered to left on a 3-1 pitch.
Slowey (13-6) allowed two runs and five hits in 6 2/3 innings, including Landon Powell's solo homer in the second. He struck out eight and walked one.
Braden (9-13) gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings. He struck out two and walked one.
Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save in 16 chances for the Twins and 40th overall for the season.
Akinori Iwamura had an RBI double in the seventh for Oakland.