Josh Reddick hits grand slam, Athletics slug past Twins 14

Smolinski, who was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers a month ago and called up to the majors two weeks ago, had a big day at the plate less than 24 hours after delivering a game-tying pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth.

“I just wasn’t very sharp”, Sonny Gray said. “Obviously everybody wants to help contribute and I’m just trying to do my part right now and hopefully we’ll get it rolling”.

Catcher Josh Phegley and designated hitter Billy Butler also homered. The left-hander surrendered three facing his former team for the first time since the A’s traded him at last year’s July 31 deadline for outfielder Sam Fuld. “It seemed like the ball was flying out a little bit”. “And it seemed like I couldn’t get it done”.

Jesse Chavez (5-9) struck out nine in six innings for his second highest total of the year.

“I was just trying to put one in the air to get the run in”, Trervor Plouffe said. “I even knew during the middle innings I’d have to locate better tonight because I felt my stuff wasn’t that good. It was fun to get back out there after the long break”.

Milone caused his own woes in the third when he retired the first two batters only to hit Mark Canha on the foot with a 1-2 curveball. Now the Twins fall to 6 games back of the Kansas City Royals who took three-of-four from the White Sox over the weekend.

“We found a way to rally there”, Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “When you score with two outs it’s deflating to the other team, and they certainly did that to us. Those are tough”.

Shane Robinson’s RBI triple in the ninth off Scribner, on a ball that center fielder Billy Burns appeared to lose in the sun, spoiled the shutout bid.

The Athletics, who won their fourth in five games, flexed their collective muscles to take an early 11-0 lead.

Playing their predominantly right-handed hitting lineup, the A’s bashed out five home runs on a warm afternoon at the Coliseum and steamrolled the Minnesota Twins 14-1 to capture their first series coming out of the All-Star break. Four of Sunday’s shots came with two outs.

Santana’s error opens door for A’s: Santana had a rough day in the field, making two throwing errors, including a costly one in the second with two outs that kept the inning alive for the A’s and set up Phegley’s two-run blast.

Smolinski followed Butler’s third-inning home run with a solo drive for his first clout with the A’s. Lawrie scored when Phegley doubled off Graham.

“A lot of these guys do have the power to be productive”, A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We felt like we have the guys to be able to be consistent against lefties”.

Another mistake led to Butler’s ninth home run.

Twins: DH Miguel Sano sat out with a sprained right ankle he played through Saturday night. Molitor said Sano would be re-evaluated but he is hopeful it will be only three to five days.