Chapman, Lowrie Power A's Past Twins
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Matt Chapman homered twice, Jed Lowrie drove in three runs with a homer and double, and the Athletics' bullpen preserved an effective outing by call-up Chris Bassitt to send Oakland to a 6-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Oakland maintained at least a four-game advantage for the second wild card spot over Seattle, playing later at Arizona. The A's entered 1½ games behind the Astros in the A.L West, and open a three-game series Monday in Houston.
Chapman homered in the first and then opened the seventh with his 20th homer. Lowrie followed with his 21st homer to put Oakland up 6-2.
Tyler Austin, acquired from the Yankees at the trade deadline in a deal for pitcher Lance Lynn, had two solo homers, giving him six with the Twins and 14 on the season. Austin had a pair of two-homer games this season with New York.
Bassitt, called up Sunday from Triple-A Nashville for the sixth time this season, allowed one run on four hits in 4 2/3 innings .Ryan Buchter (3-0) pitched a scoreless seventh for the victory.
The A's improved to 56-0 when leading after seven innings, the only team in the majors that has not lost when leading after seven.
Jose Berrios (11-9) allowed three runs on eight hits in five innings.
Stephen Piscotty's 18th homer put the A's up 4-1 in the sixth. Austin answered in the bottom half off Yusmerio Petit.
Lowrie put the A's in front 3-1 with a two-run double in the fifth. Nick Martini and Chapman opened with consecutive singles. Lowrie followed with a drive high off the right-field wall, but was thrown out at third trying for a triple.
The Twins threatened in the bottom half when Logan Forsythe was hit by a pitch with two outs and Jorge Polanco singled, but Miguel Sano was retired on a hard-hit liner to left.
Chapman, who entered tied for most extra-base hits (25) in the majors since the All-Star break, staked Oakland to a 1-0 lead in the first with his 19th homer, a one-out solo shot down the left-field line.
Austin brought the Twins even in the fourth with his 13th homer, a 451-foot blast to straightaway center.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
Joe Mauer grounded out to open the bottom of the first on a long throw from deep in the hole by shortstop Marcus Semien. The Twins challenged and the call was overturned after a review of 58 seconds, giving Mauer a single.
Jed Lowrie was thrown out at third in the fifth-inning trying to stretch a two-run double off the right-field wall into a triple. The A's challenged, but the call was upheld after a review estimated at 1 minute, 24 seconds.
TRAINER'S ROOM
A's: LHP Sean Manaea was placed on the 10-day DL (left shoulder impingement) on Sunday. Manaea is 12-9 with a 3.59 ERA in 27 starts this season. RHP Emilio Pagan was recalled from Triple-A Nashville Pagan had been sent down earlier in the day when RHP Chris Bassitt was recalled to start Sunday's game against the Twins.
Twins: SS Jorge Polanco left after five innings with leg cramps and tightness. . OF Byron Buxton (left wrist strain) continues to progress on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Rochester. Buxton had one hit in three at-bats Saturday, after going 0-for-4 on Friday, and was expected to play Sunday. "Last night, he got a hit, got a double, chased some off-speed pitches, got hit by a pitch and threw a guy out at the plate," manager Paul Molitor said. "He's playing and I think that's what we're looking for. Today will be his third consecutive game down there."
UP NEXT
A's: Left-hander Brett Anderson (3-3, 3.47) opens the three-game series Monday at Houston with an extra day's rest. Anderson is 3-1 with a 2.11 ERA in eight starts since coming off the DL. Opponents are batting just .218 since his return.
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