The Oakland A’s turned a slew of unlucky, confusing calls into a steady comeback victory in the series finale at Minnesota on Sunday. The A’s 7-6 win over the Minnesota Twins handed them the series win and improved their record to 25-17.
Some lucky bounces went the A’s way in the ninth inning to secure the win. Ramón Laureano singled with one out and Matt Olson’s check-swing bouncer back to reliever Taylor Rogers, who’s throw escaped Josh Donaldson’s glove for an error that put runners on the corners with one out. Matt Chapman struck out swinging, but Laureano scored the go-ahead run when the pitch ricocheted to the backstop.
A’s struggled through hellish second and third innings dominated by a strange sequence of events. They got on the board early with Matt Chapman’s RBI scoring Matt Olson from second, but Chapman was called out at second — the call upheld upon review, much to manager Bob Melvin’s exasperation, eliminating an opportunity to add on.
A’s starter Chris Bassitt had to endure the sting in the next half inning. Trevor Larnach’s jam-shot single preceded Miguel Sanó called hit by a pitch on the hand. The contact appeared to hit the base of Sanó’s bat, as the ball traveled well down the first base line for what could have been a turned double play for the A’s. The play was not reviewable. Minnesota outfielder Max Kepler made it pay with a go-ahead three-run home run on a mistake pitch over the plate.
Minnesota threatened to break it open in the third inning, loading the bases with one out. Center fielder Ramón Laureano made a tough catch off Kepler’s drive and made a perfect throw to get Jorge Polanco out at home. The Twins challenged the call, and the call was reversed when replay showed catcher Sean Murphy didn’t get the tag on Polanco in time.
Laureano suited up for his next at-bat and hovered in the on-deck circle during the replay. Frustrations bubbled over when he shouted from the dugout steps at the umpiring crew when the call was reversed to give the Twins a 4-1 lead.
But the game was young and the A’s had a comeback in them. Chad Pinder kicked off the fifth inning with a double and Sean Murphy singled to score him. Elvis Andrus — who entered the 8-for-23 over his last seven games after a cold start — poked a single the other way and Canha singled to load the bases and force Twins starter Kenta Maeda out of the game with the score 4-3.
Reliever Tyler Duffey drew a ground ball from Seth Brown down the third base line with the infield in, but Elvis Andrus flexed his base running IQ forcing catcher Ben Rortvedt into interference during the run down. Andrus embellished the contact with a little flop, but the ruling tied the game. Chapman’s sac fly scored the go-ahead run.
Flustered by the questionable calls, Bassitt settled in and finished his five-inning outing allowing those four runs only with six hits, four strikeouts and two walks. Chapman’s RBI infield hit completed his three-hit day.
Diekman’s found trouble in Minnesota after not allowing a home run in any of his 17 appearances this season. After giving up the go-ahead home run in Saturday’s loss, Diekman allowed a game-tying, two-run home run to Andrelton Simmons in the eighth inning.
