Athletics 1, Twins 0
Gio Gonzalez and two relievers combined on a five-hit shutout and the visiting Oakland Athletics posted a 1-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins Saturday.
Gonzalez (2-0) retired the first 11 hitters he faced and allowed only four hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two before departing after 106 pitches.
The lefthander traded zeros with Nick Blackburn (1-1) for the first five innings before Oakland (3-5) capitalized on a pair of Minnesota (3-5) miscues in the sixth. Kurt Suzuki hit a two-out single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Alexi Casilla.
The A’s bullpen took over from there. Grant Balfour worked 1 1/3 innings before giving way to Brian Fuentes, who recorded the final five outs for his second save in as many chances. He worked around a leadoff walk to Michael Cuddyer in the ninth.
The Twins’ top six hitters combined to go 2-for-21. Blackburn allowed one unearned run and five hits in six innings.