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The team that recently swept the Red Sox and Dodgers will take aim at enacting revenge on the Twins, who swept them at the end of May as part of the A's 9-game losing streak.
It appears the A's have figured out a sure-fire way to win at Target Field. All you need to do is either strike out 16 times or give up 14 hits. Maybe the A's can put the capper on the series today by doing both and still winning!
Jarrod Parker gets the start for Oakland, coming off a rare dud in which he lasted just 4.2 IP against Seattle and allowed 5 runs on 6 hits. Parker is opposed by lefty Brian Duensing, who tossed a three-hit shutout against the A's in 2010 but has spent the rest of his career being extremely average. This year Duensing is 1-5 with a 4.11 ERA and has struck out just 26 batters in 46 innings.
Out of necessity (in this case, Coco Crisp's bad shoulder that keeps him out of the lineup for a second straight game) comes innovation. Introducing Jonny Gomes, #2 hitter, and Seth Smith, a #8 hitter with a .364 OBP. Today's "fun fact": Both teams have a lineup today that features three consecutive batters whose first name begins with "J". Coincidence? Well, obviously.
