A's hit five homers to power past Twins

OAKLAND -- The A's got a pair of home runs from Jake Smolinski, and one each from Josh Phegley, Billy Butler and Josh Reddick, clobbering the Twins in Sunday's matinee finale to clinch the three-game series by way of a 14-1 victory.

Twins starter Tommy Milone, making his first appearance at the Coliseum since being traded by the A's last summer, was on the hook for seven of those runs in just 2 2/3 innings, five of them earned. The lefty allowed Phegley's two-run homer in the second after Brett Lawrie reached base with two outs on shortstop Danny Santana's throwing error, and he would surrender two more homers -- back-to-back shots to Butler and Smolinski -- in Oakland's five-run third.

Video: MIN@OAK: A's break the game open with a five-run 3rd

"We had a good day out there today," said Butler, who also homered Saturday. "Those days don't come too often where you have more runs than hits. We were driving the ball. Seemed like any mistake , up and down the lineup, we were capitalizing."

Reddick's fifth-inning grand slam off right-hander J.R. Graham extended the lead for Jesse Chavez, who was excellent in his first start out of the All-Star break, limiting the Twins to three hits over six scoreless innings. Smolinski belted another long ball out to left field in the eighth, a three-run shot for his first career multi-homer game.

Video: MIN@OAK: Chavez strikes out nine to notch fifth win

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Home run happy: The A's, who entered the day with the fourth-fewest home runs in the American League with 75, enjoyed their first five-homer game of the season and first since May 26, 2014 against the Twins. Not once in their previous 73 games had they hit more than three. Four of Sunday's shots came with two outs. More >

"A lot of these guys do have the power to be productive," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "Billy's starting to swing it a lot better here recently, hitting the ball out to the big part of the park, and certainly we felt like we have the guys to be able to be consistent against lefties."

Video: MIN@OAK: Melvin on A's offense responding after break

Milone struggles in return: Since rejoining Minnesota's rotation on June 4, Milone was 3-0 with a 1.84 ERA in seven starts. But Milone, who played with the A's from 2012-14, turned in his worst start of the year, lasting just 2 2/3 innings. He had allowed five earned runs over his last five starts, but matched that total against his former team. More >

"I felt like I was making some good pitches and pitches that were down but they did a good job of going down and lifting them into the air," Milone said. "It seemed like the ball was flying out a little bit. But regardless I have to do a better job of getting out of the third with two outs."

Video: MIN@OAK: Milone gets Reddick to chase to end the 2nd

Chavez rebounds: After posting a 5.82 ERA in his final three starts leading up to the All-Star break, Chavez appeared rejuvenated Sunday, getting through six innings for just the second time in his last five outings. It also marked the first time he allowed fewer than three runs since June 17. More >

"The break probably helped him," Melvin said. "It looked like he was a little worn down, then you look back up and I saw a couple of 93s today. Life on the cutter again, good changeup today."

Video: MIN@OAK: Chavez wiggles out of bases-loaded situation

Santana's error opens door for A's: Santana had a rough day in the field, making two throwing errors, including a costly one in the second with two outs that kept the inning alive for the A's and set up Phegley's two-run blast.

"It wasn't his best day and it's not to hard to say that," Molitor said. "It's a learning experience but it was a tough day for him."

QUOTABLE
"We got whipped pretty good. They kind of dominated. We opened the door with a misplay. Milone looked sharp right out of the chute, but then we make a misplay and then hit a homer. The ball was flying today but they took advantage and we didn't. And their first seven runs all came with two outs so those are tough." -- Twins manager Paul Molitor, on his team's 14-1 loss

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The win was Melvin's 368th as A's manager, tying Ken Macha for third-most in Oakland history. Only Tony La Russa (798) and Art Howe (600) have more.

WHAT'S NEXT
Twins: The Twins have an off-day on Monday before starting a three-game series with the Angels that begins at 9:05 p.m. CT on Tuesday. Right-hander Kyle Gibson gets the start for the Twins and has been impressive in July, going 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts.

Athletics: The A's will enjoy an off-day Monday before beginning a three-game home series against ex-teammate Josh Donaldson and the Blue Jays on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. PT. Right-hander Kendall Graveman, who was one of four players sent to Oakland this winter in the Donaldson trade, gets the start against his former team. Graveman has a 2.17 ERA in his last 10 starts.

Watch every out-of-market regular season game live on MLB.TV.