OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Josh Willingham drove in two runs against his former team, Joe Mauer hit a two-run single and the Minnesota Twins snapped Oakland's four-game winning streak with a 7-2 victory over the Athletics on Monday night.
Brian Duensing (3-8) struck out seven and walked one in six innings to win for the first time in three starts after consecutive losses, helping the Twins bounce back from a three-game weekend sweep at Seattle to begin a 10-game road trip.
Darin Mastroianni had an RBI single and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth and No. 9 hitter Pedro Florimon joined Willingham and Mauer with three hits apiece for Minnesota, which went 4 for 11 with runners in scoring position.
Brandon McCarthy (6-5) took the loss as Oakland snapped a five-game home winning streak.
The Minnesota Twins have sent struggling starting pitcher Nick Blackburn back to Triple-A Rochester and taken him off their 40-man roster.The move was made before Monday's game at Oakland. The Twins will replace him on the 25-man roster on Tuesday. Blackburn was scheduled to take the mound on Wednesday against the A's.
After a decent performance over his first two major league seasons, making 33 starts each in 2008 and 2009, Blackburn has regressed since signing a four-year, $14 million contract in 2010.
He has a 7.39 ERA in 19 starts and 143 hits allowed in 98 2-3 innings. The right-hander is making $4.75 million this season and due $5.5 million in 2013.
The Twins also outrighted infielder Tsuyoshi Nishioka off their 40-man roster. He'll remain with Rochester.