Oakland A's Hit Four More Home Runs and Sweep Minnesota Twins with 9-4 Victory

Backed by four home runs and Yoenis Cespedes' first career four-hit game in MLB, the Oakland A's completed their first three-game sweep over Minnesota in over 12 years with a 9-4 victory.

The game was busted open in the second inning, when Jonny Gomes, Cespedes and Chris Carter all went deep to make the score 6-1. Seth Smith added his 10th home run of the year in the three-run sixth inning to close the scoring for Oakland.

Jarrod Parker was the third A's starter to go six innings and win without having his best stuff. Parker allowed four runs on nine hits over six innings, while striking out four.

The key for Parker was the fact that he allowed zero walks before exiting the game. Jerry Blevins and Evan Scribner combined to throw three innings of shutout relief as the A's moved three games over .500 for the first time since June 3, 2010. 

The scoring was opened in the first when Jemile Weeks and Gomes singled to lead off the inning. After a Josh Reddick strikeout, Cespedes singled to knock in Weeks. Carter walked and after a Brandon Inge strikeout, Derek Norris walked in the second run of the game. 

In the second inning, the A's struck for four runs.

First, Weeks singled and scored on Gomes' two-run blast to left field. Two batters later, Cespedes hit a towering home run to dead center field to make it 5-1. Carter then went back-to-back with a massive opposite-field dinger that hit off the second deck facade in right center field.

It was 6-1, and the A's would not look back. Thanks to losses by Tampa Bay, Baltimore and Cleveland, the A's now sit only half a game out of the second wild-card spot in the American League.

The huge homestand the A's embark on will kick off Tuesday evening, as Bartolo Colon will face the Texas Rangers and recently acquired Roy Oswalt. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. at the Coliseum.