Lawrence Butler hit a solo homer and Alika Williams tripled home two runs during a four-run sixth inning as the Athletics rallied to beat the Minnesota Twins 7-4 in the decisive game of a three-game series on Wednesday in West Sacramento, Calif.
Tommy White had three hits for the A’s, who trailed 4-2 before moving ahead in the sixth. The Athletics won for the fourth time in five games.
A’s starter J.T. Ginn (9-8) allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts over six innings. Brady Basso tossed two scoreless innings before Elvis Alvarado struck out Luke Keaschall with two runners on in the ninth for his fifth save.
Brooks Lee, Trevor Larnach and Kaelen Culpepper each hit a solo homer for Minnesota, which lost for the fifth time in six games.
The Twins took a 1-0 lead with one out in the first inning on Lee’s 21st homer of the season. Ginn retired the first two batters in the second inning before allowing back-to-back homers to Larnach and Culpepper.
Larnach turned on Ginn’s 3-1 sinker for his 11th homer of the season, and Culpepper followed with his third homer in 16 games since being promoted from Triple-A Saint Paul.
The Athletics cut into the deficit with two runs against Twins starter Connor Prielipp in the fourth. With runners on the corners and one out, Michael Stefanic lined an RBI double into left field, and another run scored on Brian Serven’s groundout.
After Minnesota tacked on a run on Royce Lewis’ sacrifice fly in the top of the sixth, the Athletics pulled ahead with four runs on five hits in the bottom half of the inning.
Prielipp was replaced by Andrew Morris (4-6) after giving up a one-out single to Jonah Heim, who moved to second on White’s single.
Pinch hitter Jeff McNeil followed with an RBI double and Carlos Cortes struck out before Williams’ two-run triple put the Athletics ahead 5-4. Darell Hernaiz capped the rally with an RBI single to center.
Prielipp gave up three runs on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.
The Athletics added to their lead with one out in the seventh on Butler’s 12th homer of the season.
–Field Level Media
