MINNEAPOLIS -- The A's sure do like to beat up on the Twins, and this time, they spoiled their home opener.Oakland's 8-3 series-opening victory at Target Field on Monday was its seventh straight win against Minnesota, and 12th in its last 14 tries.Scott Kazmir labored through six innings, but his teammates did plenty of work at the plate to help out their lefty, totaling five runs through the first three innings against Kevin Correia, who was tagged for six total runs allowed on nine hits through 5 2/3 innings. 
Both starters combined for 127 pitches through the first three frames.Brandon Moss, who opened the second inning with a walk and scored on Yoenis Cespedes' double, collected a two-run base hit in the A's three-run third, with Alberto Callaspo adding an RBI double in the inning.Aaron Hicks' RBI triple in the second got the Twins on the board, and two more runs off Kazmir in the third narrowed Oakland's lead to 5-3. But the A's southpaw settled down thereafter, retiring nine of his last 11 to pick up his second win in as many tries this year.Catcher Derek Norris homered for the first time on the season off right-hander Samuel Deduno in the sixth, and after a balk call on Deduno in the seventh gave the A's yet another run, Oakland added on one more time courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Cespedes.Jed Lowrie nearly had a home run of his own in the third, but it was ruled foul, even after a replay review. Lowrie left the game in the seventh inning after getting hit by a pitch, and he has been deemed day to day with a lower right leg contusion.The A's and Twins will enjoy an off-day Tuesday before resuming the three-game set Wednesday.Jane Lee / MLB.com
Both starters combined for 127 pitches through the first three frames.Brandon Moss, who opened the second inning with a walk and scored on Yoenis Cespedes' double, collected a two-run base hit in the A's three-run third, with Alberto Callaspo adding an RBI double in the inning.Aaron Hicks' RBI triple in the second got the Twins on the board, and two more runs off Kazmir in the third narrowed Oakland's lead to 5-3. But the A's southpaw settled down thereafter, retiring nine of his last 11 to pick up his second win in as many tries this year.Catcher Derek Norris homered for the first time on the season off right-hander Samuel Deduno in the sixth, and after a balk call on Deduno in the seventh gave the A's yet another run, Oakland added on one more time courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Cespedes.Jed Lowrie nearly had a home run of his own in the third, but it was ruled foul, even after a replay review. Lowrie left the game in the seventh inning after getting hit by a pitch, and he has been deemed day to day with a lower right leg contusion.The A's and Twins will enjoy an off-day Tuesday before resuming the three-game set Wednesday.Jane Lee / MLB.com
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