Twins at Athletics
The streaking Oakland Athletics have played their way into a wild-card spot in the American League and maintained it with a hard-fought victory in the series opener. Oakland hopes to keep its hold on the berth and extend its winning streak to five games when it hosts the AL Central-leading Minnesota Twins on Wednesday for the middle contest of their three-game set.
The Athletics, who occupied last place in the AL West earlier this season, recorded an 8-6 victory on Tuesday to remain in a virtual tie with Cleveland for the second wild card. It was the sixth win in seven contests for Oakland, which remained four homers behind league-leading Minnesota (89) for most in the majors since May 13 by belting three - including a huge one by its newest addition. Chris Herrmann, who signed a one-year deal with the Athletics in November but underwent knee surgery in March, became the first player in franchise history to hit a grand slam in his debut as he launched his shot in the fourth inning to create a 6-3 lead. The Twins also hit three homers - two by Jason Castro - on Tuesday to move eight ahead of Seattle (152) for first in the majors but fell to 1-3 on their six-game road trip with their fourth loss in five overall contests.
TV: 9:07 p.m. ET, FS North (Minnesota), NBCS California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Kyle Gibson (8-4, 4.21 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Mike Fiers (8-3, 4.01)
Gibson is coming off the first relief appearance of his major-league career, an outing on Thursday in which he recorded one strikeout over a perfect inning against Tampa Bay in a game that lasted 18 innings. The 31-year-old native of Indiana defeated the Rays two days earlier despite yielding four runs and seven hits in seven frames. Gibson is 2-2 with a 4.03 ERA in four career starts against the Athletics.
Fiers extended his unbeaten streak to 10 starts on Friday, when he recorded his sixth win in that span after allowing one run and six hits over 6 2/3 innings on the road against the Los Angeles Angels. The 34-year-old Floridian has given up one earned run in each of his last three turns and fewer than three in 12 straight outings following a string of three consecutive starts with six allowed. Fiers owns a 6-1 record and 2.77 ERA in 11 career games (10 starts) against Minnesota.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics 1B Matt Olson has hit safely in six of his last seven games, recording five homers and eight RBIs in that span.
2. Minnesota activated LHP Adalberto Mejia (calf), who allowed one run over 3 1/3 innings of relief on Tuesday, from the 60-day injured list.
3. Oakland optioned C Beau Taylor to Triple-A Las Vegas and transferred RHP Marco Estrada (back) to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster for Herrmann.