*Photo from Yahoo Sports*
Are they turning a corner? Shea Langeliers homered and drove in 3 runs, Tyler Soderstrom added 3 RBI's of his own, and the Oakland Athletics defeated the Minnesota Twins with a 6-5 victory Friday night in Oakland.
Two runs in the 8th inning lifted the A's to a comeback win, giving them 3 wins in 4 games following a 9 game losing streak. The win also ensured the A's wouldn't end the month with a losing record, ending a streak of 10 straight losing months. It's a big moment for a rebuilding team like this.
Langeliers said of the team's winning month "That's just kind of this group. Most of these guys were here last year, went through that tough season. Going through something like that brings the guys closer together. We really just want to fight for each other."
Trevor Larnach gave the Twins a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a groundout that scored Willi Castro. Soderstrom tied the game in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single. In the 5th inning, Soderstrom hit a two run double to put the A's ahead by a 3-1 score. Langeliers then made it 4-1 with an RBI single that scored Soderstrom.
Royce Lewis cut the Twins deficit to 4-2 in the 6th inning, hitting a solo home run to left, his 10th longball of the season. In the 7th, Castro put the Twins in front, making it a 5-4 game with a 3 run home run to right field, his 6th of the season. Langeliers then put the A's ahead for good in the 8th with a two run home run to left field.
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay said of Langeliers' homer that "Shea's got the slug. When he hits the ball, he hits it hard. It was a perfect swing. Really big moment and a really big hit for us."
Joey Estes was the starting pitcher for the Athletics, allowing two runs on 5 hits and a walk in 6 innings. Austin Adams allowed 3 runs in the 7th before Lucas Erceg pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Sean Newcomb got the last out of the 8th before Mason Miller got the save in the 9th, his 14th of the season.
Chris Paddack was on the hook for 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks in 4 2/3 innings in his start for the Twins. Kody Funderburk allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings. Jorge Alcala pitched a scoreless inning before closer Jhoan Duran got the loss and the blown save in the 8th.
Game two of the series is set for Saturday afternoon. The A's will go for the series win as JP Sears is the starting pitcher, while Bailey Ober starts for the Twins as they try to even the series ahead of Sunday's finale.
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