A's Top Twins For 5th Straight Win
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Danny Valencia had three hits, including a pair of doubles, Billy Butler added two hits and an RBI and the Oakland Athletics won their fifth straight game with a 5-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday.
Jake Smolinski homered, Jed Lowrie singled twice and scored two runs and Sean Manaea pitched six innings for his second career win. The five-game winning streak is one shy of their season high.
Oakland went into the game last in the AL in several offensive categories before getting 11 hits off the Twins. It's the second time in as many days that the A's reached double-digit hit totals.
Valencia led the way to remain Oakland's hottest hitter.
Since coming off the disabled list May 6, the A's third baseman is batting .378 (31 for 82) with eight home runs and 19 RBIs.
Brian Dozier doubled, walked and scored the lone run for Minnesota. The Twins have lost three straight after sweeping Seattle on the road.
Manaea (2-3) allowed one run and five hits to snap a two-game skid. The rookie left-hander had a season-high eight strikeouts with three walks.
Three relievers combined to finish off the win.
The A's put runners in scoring position each of the first six innings.
Butler doubled and scored on Billy Burns' infield single in the second, then singled in Lowrie in the third.
Smolinski homered in the fourth, Khris Davis had a sacrifice fly in the fifth and Coco Crisp added an RBI single in the sixth.
Pat Dean (1-2) took the loss and allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings in his third career start.
