A’s struggle at the plate again in series-opening loss to Twins

The A's are the first team since the 1910 White Sox to hit below .200 through at least 38 games.

OAKLAND — The A’s offense struggled again Monday night in their series opener against the Twins as they lost 3-1 at the Coliseum.

Oakland managed one run off veteran starter Chris Archer, then couldn’t get anything going against three relievers over five innings in its 15th game of one or zero runs. The A’s are now batting .199 on the season, becoming the first team since the 1910 White Sox to be batting below .200 after 38 games.

A’s starter Zach Logue (2-2) gave up runs in the third and fifth — both scored by Royce Lewis. Lewis, in his 10th major league game after being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, came around to score on RBI singles by Jorge Polanco and Byron Buxton.

Between the scores, Elvis Andrus smacked a fourth-inning double off Archer that scored Seth Brown.

Gary Sanchez launched a towering 433-foot drive to center field for his third homer of the season leading off the sixth against Domingo Acevedo, making it 3-1.

The A’s couldn’t solve Yennier Cano (1-0), who earned the first win of his career with two scoreless innings. Griffin Jax then followed with two shutout frames of his own and Tyler Duffey worked the ninth for his fifth career save and first this season.

The Twins followed up a sweep at home against the A’s with a victory in the opener of this series for their first four-game winning streak in a single season against Oakland since 2007. Minnesota allowed just five runs in the four games.

Logue allowed two runs and five hits in 4 1/3 innings.

BRIGHT SPOT

One of the only bright spots for the A’s was the play of Andrus. He hit the RBI double in the fourth and then made a diving stop and throw to first to rob Gio Urshela of a hit and save at least a run. He’s raised his batting average 30 points in the last week to .219 by hitting safely in four of his last five games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: INF Sheldon Neuse (groin tightness) was held out of the lineup for a second straight day but was available off the bench. … C Stephen Vogt (right knee) took batting practice, ran and caught before the game as he returned to baseball activity for the first time since time since going on the injured list April 21.

Twins: Kyle Garlick was activated after missing 13 games with a right calf strain. Garlick was in the lineup as the DH and batted third. OF Mark Contreras was optioned to Triple-A St. Paul to make room on the roster. … Manager Rocco Baldelli said he expects SS Carlos Correa (bruised right middle finger) to be activated from the injured list during this series.

UP NEXT

RHP James Kaprielian (0-2, 4.97) is scheduled to start for the A’s. RHP Dylan Bundy (3-2, 5.76 ERA) is expected to be activated to start Tuesday for Minnesota after a bout with COVID-19. Bundy last pitched on May 4 at Baltimore.

With a loss, the A’s would drop their first series against the Twins in Oakland since being swept in a two-game set in May 2011. They have won their last 10 series hosting Minnesota.