Jon Lester goes the distance in A's win (w/video)

OAKLAND - Jon Lester pitched a three-hitter for his fourth career shutout, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Minnesota Twins 3-0 on Thursday night.

The All-Star left-hander struck out eight, walked two and only allowed two runners past first base in the 11th complete game of his career. He pitched out of a two-out, bases-loaded jam in the sixth but was otherwise stellar.

Lester (12-7) was making his second start since being acquired at the trade deadline as part of the blockbuster deal that sent Cuban slugger Yoenis Cespedes to Boston.

Stephen Vogt homered and Derek Norris hit an RBI double to help Oakland become the first team in the majors to reach 70 wins.

A’s manager Bob Melvin became the eighth active manager in the majors and 76th overall to reach 800 career victories. Two of them have come with Lester on the mound, showing why general manager Billy Beane made the deal with the Red Sox.

Lester retired the first 15 batters while allowing only three balls out of the infield. Former A’s catcher Kurt Suzuki ended the bid for perfection with a leadoff single in the sixth. The former Boston ace hasn’t lost since June 7 and improved to 6-0 with 1.21 ERA over his last 10 starts.

Chris Colabello and Oswaldo Arcia had the other hits for Minnesota, which has lost 10 straight to Oakland.

Vogt snapped an 0-for-23 skid with his sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot off Yohan Pino (0-2) in the third.

Back-to-back doubles by Brandon Moss and Derek Norris in the fourth inning made it 3-0.

Pino allowed six hits 5? innings. The right-hander struck out two and is winless in his last four starts.