Athletics 3, Twins 0
Jon Lester tossed a three-hitter and Stephen Vogt belted a two-run homer as host Oakland took the opener of the four-game series.
Derek Norris drove in a run and Eric Sogard registered a pair of hits for the first-place Athletics, who moved three games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West. Lester (12-7) was sensational in his second start since being acquired from Boston, allowing a trio of singles and walking two while recording eight strikeouts en route to his 11th career complete game and fourth shutout.
Chris Colabello had a hit and a walk while Kurt Suzuki and Oswaldo Arcia also notched singles for the Twins, who fell nine games behind Kansas City for the second AL wild-card spot. Yohan Pino (1-4) yielded three runs and six hits over 5 2/3 innings.
The first 15 batters of the game were retired in order before Alberto Callaspo drew a leadoff walk in the third inning. Vogt followed by depositing a 2-2 offering from Pino over the right-field wall for his sixth blast of the season and a 2-0 lead.
Oakland increased its advantage in the fourth, when Brandon Moss and Norris opened the inning with back-to-back doubles. Lester was perfect through five frames before hitting a bump in the road in the sixth, allowing singles by Suzuki and Colabello to start the inning and walking Brian Dozier with two out to load the bases before retiring Trevor Plouffe on a groundout.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland INF Jed Lowrie was held out of the starting lineup for a third straight game but flied out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning. ... Dozier was 0-3 while Athletics RF Josh Reddick, ending their seven- and six-game hitting streaks. ... Vogt's homer ended his string of 23 straight at-bats without a hit. ... Former Oakland OF Josh Willingham was Lester's favorite victim, striking out three times in four at-bats.