Carlos Cortes hit a two-run homer and Gage Jump pitched into the seventh inning as the Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Tuesday in West Sacramento, Calif.
Lawrence Butler had two hits for the Athletics, who won for the third time in four games, bouncing back from a 9-6 loss in the opener of the three-game series on Monday.
Jump (6-8) allowed two runs on three hits with two walks and nine strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings. Hogan Harris recorded two outs, Luis Medina pitched a scoreless eighth inning, and Elvis Alvarado retired the Twins in order in the ninth for his fourth save.
Royce Lewis had two of Minnesota’s four hits. The Twins struck out 12 times and lost for the fourth time in five games.
Right-hander Taj Bradley (9-6) threw the first immaculate inning (three strikeouts on nine total pitches) in Twins history. In the fifth, he fanned Cortes and Brian Serven on swinging strikes, then caught Henry Bolte looking at a third strike.
The Athletics took a 2-0 lead with two outs in the second. After Alika Williams doubled, Cortes turned on Bradley’s 1-2 cutter for his eighth homer of the season.
Minnesota recorded its first hit against Jump on Lewis’ two-out single in the fourth inning. Lewis then stole second base but was stranded when Kody Clemens struck out.
The Athletics added to their lead with two runs in the sixth inning. Butler singled with two outs and raced around to score on Tommy White’s double off the center field wall. Donovan Walton followed with an RBI single to right field.
Bradley allowed four runs on seven hits over 6 2/3 innings. He walked one and matched his career high with 11 strikeouts.
Minnesota forced Jump from the game in the seventh inning. Harris replaced Jump with one out after Clemens scored from first base on Kaelen Culpepper’s double.
Brooks Lee’s double eluded the reach of second baseman Walton in shallow right field, sending Culpepper to third. Victor Caratini followed with an RBI groundout.
Minnesota center fielder Byron Buxton exited with an apparent back injury after chasing down Bolte’s two-out triple in the seventh inning.
