Twins Take Series From the Athletics

The Minnesota Twins have been terrible on the road for two months -- almost as long as the Oakland Athletics have been nearly unbeatable at home.

So when the Twins won the weekend series with another outstanding start and another fortunate finish Sunday, both teams wondered if their fortunes were about to change.

Joe Mauer doubled and scored on Matthew LeCroy’s single in the ninth inning, and the Twins beat the A’s, 2-1, to take two of three in the series despite scoring a total of five runs.

The Twins managed only one hit in the first eight innings against Rich Harden, who struck out nine and topped 100 mph with his 114th pitch. But Carlos Silva matched Harden with seven superb innings, and Minnesota rallied against All-Star reliever Justin Duchscherer.

“When you’ve got good pitching, that’s what happens,” LeCroy said. “We’re not supposed to beat a guy who’s throwing like [Harden]. He was unbelievable, but Carlos kept us in it, and we finally got a break.”

Minnesota’s only hit against Harden was Michael Ryan’s home run in the third inning.

Mauer led off the ninth with a double down the left-field line against Duchscherer (6-3). Mauer advanced to third on a groundout and scored on LeCroy’s single up the middle.

Juan Rincon (5-4) got three outs in the eighth for the Twins, who arrived in Oakland having lost 10 of 13.

With the loss, Oakland is one game behind the Angels for first place in the American League West.