Game Thread #42: A’s at Twins

Well yesterday was a bummer. The Oakland A’s played 90% of a winning game, but their customarily reliable bullpen let it get away, which happens to everyone sometimes but not often to this 2021 squad so far. It was only their second blown save of the year.

They’ll look to put it behind them on Sunday in the rubber match, having split the first two games this weekend against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Either way the A’s have already wrapped up the season series, winning four of five so far, but there’s one more chance to finish the road trip on a high note before heading home.

On the hill for Oakland will be Chris Bassitt. The right-hander has allowed exactly two earned runs in each of his last six starts, and his last pair of outings were particularly impressive — he went seven innings each time and combined for 17 strikeouts and no walks, all against the Blue Jays and Red Sox. The Twins call on Kenta Maeda, who was Cy Young runner-up last year but allowed seven runs against the A’s when they met in April.

DH Mitch Moreland is still out with soreness in his side, dating back to Friday when he was lifted mid-game for a pinch-hitter.

A’s lineup (away)

1. LF Mark Canha (R)
2. RF Seth Brown (L)
3. CF Ramon Laureano (R)
4. 1B Matt Olson (L)
5. 3B Matt Chapman (R)
6. DH Jed Lowrie (S)
7. 2B Chad Pinder (R)
8. C Sean Murphy (R)
9. SS Elvis Andrus (R)

• RHP Chris Bassitt

Pinder has now started two games, at two different positions.

Twins lineup (home)

1. LF Luis Arraez (L)
2. 3B Josh Donaldson (R)
3. 2B Jorge Polanco (S)
4. DH Nelson Cruz (R)
5. RF Trevor Larnach (L)
6. 1B Miguel Sano (R)
7. CF Max Kepler (L)
8. C Willians Astudillo (R)
9. SS Andrelton Simmons (R)

• RHP Kenta Maeda

Let’s Go Oakland!

How To Watch

• Date: Sunday, May 16
• Time: 11:10 a.m. PT
• TV (local): NBC Sports California
• Radio: 960 AM (more listings here)
• Streaming (watch): NBCS website (with cable sub)
• Streaming (listen): A’s Cast