Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Minnesota lefty Brian Duensing threw the first complete game of his career, limiting the Athletics to three hits in a 2-0 victory at Target Field.
Making just his fifth start out of 44 appearances this season, Duensing (6-1) walked two batters and fanned four for the AL Central-leading Twins, who have won three in a row and eight of their last 10 games. They moved two games clear of the White Sox in the division, after Chicago lost at home to Detroit.
Orlando Hudson and Joe Mauer each knocked in a run and Duensing, who moved to 8-1 in 14 career starts, didn't allow a hit after the third inning.
Trevor Cahill (12-5), who had won his last three starts, allowed six hits and a run over seven innings for the Athletics, who lost for the fourth time in five games.
Alexi Casilla doubled leading off the bottom of the third, went to third on a bunt from Denard Span before scoring on Hudson's sacrifice fly to left.
Duensing was rolling on the hill as he retired the side in order in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. He walked Kurt Suzuki with one out in the seventh, but set down the next two hitters.
Span doubled off Craig Breslow to begin the eighth and went to third when Hudson grounded a ball to shortstop.Steven Tolleson threw to third base in an attempt to get the lead runner, but Span was ruled safe despiteKevin Kouzmanoff seemingly tagging him as his hand came off the base for a brief moment. A's manager Bob Geren argued, but the Twins had runners at first and third with nobody out.
Mauer followed with an RBI single as the ball got over the head of left fielder Chris Carter and caromed off the base of the wall.
The A's were set down in order in the ninth.
The A's have gone six consecutive games without a home run, the second longest streak of the season (seven tilts from May 18-25)...Cahill has a streak of 20 consecutive starts with six hits or fewer and five innings pitched or more, which is tied for the longest such streak in modern major league history (since 1900). Nolan Ryan had 20 for the Angels from July 27, 1972 to April 18, 1973...Before Saturday, Cahill hadn't allowed an earned run in his last three starts...The Twins are 4-1 vs. Oakland this season.