Twins Power Past A’s 10-3 Behind Castro’s Two Homers, Extend Oakland’s Skid to 8 Games

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Willi Castro blasted two solo home runs and the Minnesota Twins erupted for four runs in both the sixth and seventh innings to defeat the struggling Oakland Athletics 10-3 on Tuesday night, handing them their eighth straight loss and 19th in the last 20 games.

Trevor Larnach added a solo shot in a three-hit performance, while Byron Buxton chipped in with a two-run single during Minnesota’s sixth-inning surge. Royce Lewis broke an 0-for-32 slump with a two-run double off the left-center wall in the seventh, narrowly missing a grand slam.

Castro now has six home runs on the season, and Larnach notched his ninth. Buxton, who drove in a career-high five runs in Monday’s 10-4 win over Oakland, continued to shine at the plate.

Twins starter Pablo López (5-3) allowed two runs over five innings, yielding four hits and three walks while striking out four. He exited due to right shoulder tightness before the sixth inning. Manager Rocco Baldelli later said López is dealing with a lat strain.

Oakland’s Jacob Lopez (0-4) followed opener Grant Holman and allowed all three Twins homers across 4 1/3 innings, despite striking out a career-high nine batters. Tyler Soderstrom hit his first major league triple for the A’s.

Oakland’s dismal stretch marks the fourth time in franchise history they’ve dropped 19 of 20 games, per Sportradar. They’ve been outscored by 95 runs during that span and have allowed a league-worst 94 home runs this season, including 47 in their last 20 games.

Up Next:
Minnesota’s Zebby Matthews (0-1, 6.43 ERA) is scheduled to face Oakland’s Jeffrey Springs (5-4, 4.72 ERA) on Wednesday.