Graveman pitches Athletics past Twins
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kendall Graveman pitched six solid innings and ended his five-game losing streak as the Oakland A's defeated the Minnesota Twins 3-2 at the Oakland Coliseum on Monday afternoon.
Graveman (2-6) gave up two runs on six hits over six innings. He struck out five, walked three and threw 85 pitches. Graveman had gone 0-5 with a 7.36 ERA over his previous six starts after going 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in his first three outings.
Coco Crisp hit a leadoff home run for the A's, who won their third straight game and ended the Twins' four-game winning streak.
Twins right-hander Ervin Santana (1-4) gave up three runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Santana entered the game with a 15-6 record and 2.03 ERA in 28 starts and 30 appearances in his career against Oakland. He was 7-2 with an ERA of 1.93 in Oakland.
The A's trailed 2-1 entering the bottom of the fifth, but they pulled even when first baseman Yonder Alonso walked and scored on Marcus Semien's double off the left-center field wall. Semien was thrown out at third, and the call stood after a video review.
Oakland took a 3-2 lead in the sixth. Jed Lowrie lined a leadoff single, moved to third on Stephen Vogt's double and scored on Khris Davis' sacrifice fly.
The A's escaped a jam in the seventh. After putting runners on second and third, John Axford struck out Brian Dozier for the second out. Sean Doolittle came on to face Joe Mauer, who was robbed by Alonso on a diving catch going to his right.
Doolittle pitched a one-two-three eighth, and closer Ryan Madson a perfect ninth for his 12th save.
Crisp gave the A's a 1-0 lead with his 16th career leadoff home run. He launched Santana's 1-0 pitch over the right field fence. It was the A's first leadoff home run of the season and Crisp's fifth blast overall.
Minnesota pulled even with a run in the second. Miguel Sano led off with an infield single and moved to third on Eduardo Escobar's two-out single to center. Juan Centeno grounded an RBI single that hit off the first base bag and went past Alonso into right field.
The Twins took a 2-1 lead in the fifth. Center fielder Danny Santana lined a one-out single, moved to third on Eduardo Nunez' bloop single and scored on Dozier's sacrifice fly to right-center. A's right-fielder Chris Coghlan and Crisp collided on the play, but Coghlan held onto the ball, and both players stayed in the game.
Danny Santana left the game for a pinch runner in the seventh with left hamstring strain. He's day-to-day.
NOTES: Twins RHP Kyle Gibson (right shoulder strain) will be activated from the 15-day disabled list Thursday and start against Tampa Bay, manager Paul Molitor said before Monday's game against Oakland. ... To make room for Gibson in the rotation, Molitor moved RHP Phil Hughes to the bullpen. Hughes, who has some experience as a reliever, is 1-7 with a 5.74 ERA in 10 starts this season. ... Oakland LHP Rich Hill had to exit his start Sunday against Detroit early because of a strained groin, but manager Bob Melvin said he might be able to make his next start Saturday at Houston. Melvin said he might push Hill's start to Sunday. ... Twins 3B Trevor Plouffe (bruised right knee) was out of the starting lineup for the third straight game but was available off the bench and will likely start on Tuesday against the Athletics. ... Twins C Kurt Suzuki (concussion-like symptoms) was out of the starting lineup for the second straight game but was available off the bench and will likely start on Tuesday. ... A's DH Billy Butler got a rare start against a right-handed pitcher. Butler entered the game with five home runs in 34 career at-bats against Twins RHP Ervin Santana.