Danny Valencia, Stephen Vogt pace A's over Twins for 4th straight win

OAKLAND - Danny Valencia homered and drove in three runs, Stephen Vogt had three hits and drove in two and the Oakland Athletics won their fourth straight, beating the Minnesota Twins 7-4 on Tuesday night.

Marcus Semien and Billy Burns each had two hits and drove in a run for the A’s, who beat the Twins at home for the 15th time in 18 games.

Ryan Dull (1-0) ended a scoring threat in the fifth and finished with 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win. He has yet to allow a hit to his first batter (0 for 21) nor has he allowed any of his 21 inherited runners to score.

Twins outfielder Miguel Sano left the game after straining his left hamstring running to first base in the third.

Starter Eric Surkamp, called up from Triple-A to make the start, lasted 4 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits. He walked one and struck out two.

Sano, Byung Ho Park, Robbie Grossman and Kurt Suzuki each drove in a run for the Twins, who lost their second straight following a four-game winning streak. Grossman had a career-high three doubles

Tyler Duffey (2-4) gave up at least five runs for a third consecutive start after giving up eight runs - five earned - through his first four starts combined. He allowed a career-high matching 10 hits, walked one and struck out six.

Valencia’s two-run double in the fifth snapped a 3-all tie, though the Twins got a run back in the eighth.

Valencia has nine hits in his last 14 at bats (.643) and has driven in 19 runs in 21 games since coming off the disabled list.

John Axford worked the ninth for his first save in three chances.

NOTES

Oakland pitcher Sonny Gray threw about 50 pitches, some in a bullpen and some to hitters.

“I definitely felt like the ball was coming out of my hand nice and easy,” he said. “I can’t wait to get back out there.” Gray is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Thursday.