Odorizzi solid, but offense silenced in defeat

MINNEAPOLIS -- In his 27th start of the year, right-hander Jake Odorizzi (Odo) put an end to a dubious streak, as he recorded an out in the seventh inning for the first time this season.
Odorizzi, pitching on the first day of Players' Weekend, turned in one of his best starts of the year, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits over seven innings, but it wasn't enough in a 7-1 loss to the A's on Friday night at Target Field. Dating back to last year, Odorizzi went 30 starts without going more than six innings, which was the sixth-longest such streak in Major League history.
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"I wouldn't say it's a breakthrough, but it's nice to get the results when you're feeling good and throwing the ball well," Odorizzi said. "It's nice to have it match up with how you've been feeling."
Odorizzi, who pitched primarily from the stretch to simplify things, didn't help his own cause in the fourth, walking Jed Lowrie (Jedi) and misfiring on a throw to second on a comebacker hit by Khris Davis (KD), allowing Lowrie to reach third and eventually score on a sacrifice fly.
In the fifth, Odorizzi surrendered a one-out double to Mark Canha (Tom Ace) and he came around to score on a single from Jonathan Lucroy (Luc) that proved to be the game-winner with Minnesota's lack of offense. Odorizzi, though, settled down, retiring the last eight batters he faced.

"I was on the fence there a little bit about after six trying to leave on a good note," said Twins manager Paul Molitor (Doc). "Heard what he had to say. Thought he was strong -- the fifth, sixth innings, he was throwing the ball well. We gave him a shot there and he was clean in the seventh."
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A's lefty Sean Manaea (Manaealator) held Minnesota to one run over five-plus innings, while Oakland's bullpen did the rest. The Twins scored their lone run in the fourth, when Eddie Rosario (Edisito) reached on a leadoff bunt single and went to second on an errant throw from Manaea. Miguel Sanó (Boqueton) scored him with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.

"Not a lot of offense," Molitor said. "We had trouble solving Manaea early and then the bullpen, you can see why they're a tough team if they play with the lead. They have a lot of power arms. They shut us down at the end."
The A's put the game away with a three-run homer from Matt Chapman (Chappy) in the eighth inning off reliever Oliver Drake (Bucko). Drake had previously thrown 9 1/3 scoreless innings with the Twins since being claimed on waivers on Aug. 3. Addison Reed (Reeder) also served up solo shots to Stephen Piscotty (Momo) and Ramón Laureano (Noodles) in the ninth.

"We kind of let them slip away," Molitor said. "With some big hits by their side the last couple of innings."
MAUER PASSES CAREW
Joe Mauer made Twins history in the fifth, passing Rod Carew for second on Minnesota's all-time hit list with his 2,086th career hit. Mauer singled to left off Manaea and received a standing ovation from the crowd, tipping his helmet to the fans in return. He now trails only Hall of Famer Kirby Puckett (2,304) on Minnesota's all-time hit list.

"It was a nice deal," Mauer said. "Obviously, the fans recognizing that and teammates and coaches. It was a special moment. I was telling the guys after it makes me uncomfortable being out there on the field all by myself. Definitely appreciate just the small part in the game to recognize that."
SOUND SMART
Jeff Francis holds the record for the longest streak of consecutive starts of six innings or fewer with 40 from 2011-14. Only Eddie Butler (39), Junior Guerra (38), Wil Ledezma (38) and Rick van den Hurk (35) had longer such streaks than Odorizzi.
HE SAID IT
"It's great that he did it at home in front of people and got the recognition he deserves from the hometown fans. Hopefully, the next couple years he stays here and can surpass Kirby Puckett and just kind of cap things off. I think it's only fitting for him. He is St. Paul's finest for a reason." -- Odorizzi, on Mauer's milestone
UP NEXT
Lefty Stephen Gonsalves, the club's No. 5 prospect per MLB Pipeline, will be looking for better results when he makes his second career start against the A's on Saturday at 6:10 p.m. CT. Gonsalves (0-1, 27.00 ERA) lasted just 1 1/3 innings, allowing four runs in a loss to the White Sox in his debut. Right-hander Mike Fiers (9-6, 3.21) starts for Oakland.