Left-hander Jacob Lopez and four relievers combined to toss a two-hit shutout as the Athletics held on for a 2-0 win over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night in Minneapolis.
Lawrence Butler and Tyler Soderstrom drove in one run apiece for the Athletics, who won the opener of a three-game series. The Athletics snapped a two-game skid.
Austin Martin doubled and Ryan Jeffers singled for Minnesota’s only hits.
Lopez (5-4) was dominant from the start. He allowed one hit, walked four and struck out four in five scoreless innings.
Right-hander Geoff Hartlieb, left-hander Jose Suarez and right-hander Elvis Alvarado teamed up to keep the Twins scoreless in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
Athletics left-hander Hogan Harris finished the job with a scoreless ninth inning to collect his eighth save of the season.
Twins right-hander Zebby Matthews (4-8) took the loss despite registering a quality start. He allowed two runs on three hits in six innings, walking three and striking out one.
The Athletics broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fifth.
Donovan Walton drew a one-out walk and advanced to third base on a double by Tommy White. Two batters later, Butler hit a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Walton and make it 1-0.
The Athletics added another run in the sixth.
Henry Bolte started the action this time with a leadoff infield single. Jacob Wilson grounded out in the next at-bat but Bolte advanced safely to second. Soderstrom then gave the Athletics a 2-0 lead with an RBI single to left to drive in Bolte.
The Twins squandered an opportunity to generate some runs in the bottom of the sixth. Minnesota loaded the bases with one out for Brooks Lee, but Suarez escaped the jam by getting Lee to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Twins swiped three bases in the loss. Royce Lewis stole two bases and Luke Keaschall stole one.
