The Oakland Athletics suffered a brutal defeat in more ways than one on Thursday as they were handily defeated 11-1 by the Minnesota Twins. The bigger loss came when Tyson Ross left the game with a left oblique strain after facing two batters. The A’s bullpen was able to get through the game but not without taking it on the chin for most of the game.
After Ross exited the game, David Purcey came on in relief. Purcey lasted 3 2/3 innings and gave up one run (with another run credited to Ross). He was followed by Craig Breslow who gave up two runs on a Justin Morneau homerun in 2 1/3 innings. Trystan Magnuson followed and was destroyed to the tune of six runs in two innings. Brad Ziegler wrapped up the forgettable afternoon giving up one run in the top of the ninth.
The A’s offense had some chances to get back into the game before it got blown open, but they couldn’t get any timely hits (par for the course). The loss drops the A’s back to .500 at 22-22 and 1 1/2 games back of the Rangers. The Angels lost their fifth straight game to remain 1/2 game back of the A’s.
Oakland “travels” across the Bay for their first interleague series of the season as they face the San Francisco Giants this weekend. The A’s will send out their top three pitchers in Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, and Gio Gonzalez.