OAKLAND, Calif. _ Daniel Gossett has had issues with home runs allowed all season. He conquered the long ball on Friday, but it was still a bad night.
While Gossett did not allow a home run for the first time since June 24, the rookie did allow season-highs with nine hits and three walks in just 3 2/3 innings. Gossett was pulled with two outs in the fourth inning after the Minnesota Twins scored their fifth run of the game en route to a 6-3 victory over the A's in what turned out to be Gossett's second-shortest outing of his career.
It was the fourth that got away from Gossett. Already trailing 1-0, Gossett allowed four straight hits to lead off the inning that resulted in two runs to extend Minnesota's lead to 3-0. A wild pitch from Gossett brought home Jason Castro to make it 4-0. Two batters later, Miguel Sano reached first with a single after a throw from Marcus Semien pulled Ryon Healy off the bag. Brian Dozier broke for home on the play and Healy's throw to the plate was mishandled by Bruce Maxwell to give the Twins a 5-0 lead. After another wild pitch and walk to Joe Mauer, manager Bob Melvin was forced to go to his bullpen.
Frankie Montas entered the game and was able to record the final out, but the damage had already been done as four runs had crossed the plate in the inning for the Twins.
Jaime Garcia made his first start as a Twin after the club acquired him from the Atlanta Braves. Although he found himself in a few bad spots throughout his 62/3 innings, Garcia was able to pitch his way out more times than not to limit the A's to three runs despite allowing eight hits and three walks.
The A's let a golden opportunity slip away in the second inning. After Matt Chapman followed up a pair of lead off walks by Khris Davis and Jed Lowrie with a single to load the bases with no outs, Ryan Lavarnway struck out and Matt Joyce grounded into a double play to end the threat.
Lavarnway did redeem himself a bit in the fourth after a double down the left field line brought home Davis and Lowrie to cut Minnesota's lead to 5-2. Davis also brought home another run on a single to left in the fifth, but the early deficit was too much to overcome.
Bruce Maxwell led off the ninth with a walk against Twins closer Brandon Kintzler, but the next three batters were retired in order as the A's dropped their fifth straight game.
Chapman continued his defensive wizardry at third base. After Max Kepler walked to lead off the third, Chapman made an unreal diving play on a hard grounder down the left field line by Miguel Sano and initiated a 5-4-3 double play. Chapman has made some amazing plays this season, but that may have been his best.
