After a rough couple of days for their reconfigured bullpen, the Twins found the perfect solution: a dominant start.
Zebby Matthews pitched seven outstanding innings, and despite a bumpy ninth inning from closer Yoendrys Gómez, Minnesota beat the Athletics, 9-6, at Sutter Heath Park. It was a second consecutive strong start for Matthews, and his best showing since late June.
The third-year right-hander allowed a run on six hits, striking out seven against one walk, mixing six pitches effectively to contain the A’s at a very hitter-friendly ballpark. His velocity was up on all of his offerings, and he had particular success with his slider, getting eight strikes on 17 swings with the pitch.
Matthews’ seven innings equaled a career best, and his 23 whiffs were the second most by a Twins pitcher this year behind Taj Bradley, who had 25 on July 7. It was only the third time in 12 games that a Twins starter completed six innings, and the first time since Aug. 10 that Minnesota’s starter made it through six with fewer than five runs allowed.
He was backed by a lineup that jumped on the A’s early and stayed at it all game. Byron Buxton enjoyed his best game since before the All-Star break with three hits and four runs, Kaelen Culpepper enjoyed the first four-hit game of his young career, and Josh Bell drove in three runs to get to 80 on the year.
The Twins snapped a three-game losing streak. They pulled back within 4 1/2 games of the White Sox in the AL Central and two games out of the third Wild Card spot.