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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- After coming within a few inches of
hitting for the cycle, Denny Hocking was more than satisfied to
settle for five hits Thursday night.
Hocking went 5-for-6, including two doubles and a two-run homer,
and the Minnesota Twins stopped a five-game losing streak with a
10-5 win over the error-ridden Oakland Athletics.
Needing a triple to hit for the cycle, Hocking drove a ball just
foul down the left-field line in the ninth, then struck out.
Hocking said he came to bat knowing he needed a triple to complete
the cycle and get his sixth hit.
|  | | Minnesota's Corey Koskie had two hits, including this double, in Thursday's 10-5 victory. |
"With all the stuff going on, I wasn't watching the ball but I
was watching the umpire to see if his hand was going to go up (to
signal a foul ball)," said Hocking, who raised his average from
.235 to .276. "I was pretty nervous. That was exciting."
Twins manager Tom Kelly said everyone in the dugout was hoping
"he could hit it down the right-field line and get a triple
somehow."
Hocking had three RBIs for the Twins, who squandered an early
five-run lead but then broke open the game with four runs in the
seventh. Minnesota had 18 hits after getting just 16 while losing
three games at Seattle this week.
In the final game against the Mariners, the Twins were shut out
on four hits.
"Eighteen hits. That's a lot of hits," said Jacque Jones, who
added four singles and two RBIs. "Only in baseball can you get
four hits one day and 18 the next."
Corey Koskie also had an RBI single for Minnesota. Matt Lawton
and Butch Huskey had run-scoring groundouts, and the Twins scored
two runs on errors by the A's, who made four errors while losing
their third straight.
"We have to shore up the defense. We just have to catch the
ball better," A's manager Art Howe said. "Generally speaking,
when you make errors you're going to lose. You give teams extra
outs and it's going to hurt you."
Mark Redman (3-0), making his third start of the season after
eight relief appearances, allowed only five runners -- and all five
scored. He pitched six innings, giving up five runs and five hits.
Randy Velarde and Miguel Tejada hit two-run homers for the A's
and Terrence Long had an RBI double.
Luis Vizcaino (0-1), the second of four A's pitchers, was the
loser. He allowed one run and three hits in two innings.
Minnesota scored three in the first and led 5-0 in the third
inning. The A's tied the game with three in the third and Tejada's
sixth homer of the season in the fourth.
Huskey broke the tie in the sixth, and Hocking hit his second
homer of the season as the Twins made it 10-5 in the seventh. It
was just the seventh win in 20 road games for Minnesota this
season.
A's starter Kevin Appier, making his second start since missing
three weeks with a strained right forearm, lasted just three
innings. Appier, who made his 300th career appearance, allowed five
runs on nine hits. Only two of the runs were earned.
"I wasn't good, but you have to credit the Twins. I messed up a
little, but they hit a bunch of good pitches for hits. Before I
knew it I was done," Appier said. "They stockpiled a number of
hits. It was a bummer night for us."
Notes: Hocking tied his career high for hits. He also had five
last June 27 at Detroit. ... The attendance of 8,746 was the
second-lowest of the week in Oakland. The A's drew 6,836 Monday
against the Kansas City Royals. ... Sal Fasano went 0-for-2 for the
A's, making him 1-for-18 in his last seven games. ... Eric Chavez
was hitless in three at-bats for Oakland, making him 2-for-21 on
this homestand. ... The Twins led off five of the first six innings
with hits. ... A's reliever Mike Magnante left in the seventh with
a slightly sprained left ankle.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Minnesota Clubhouse
Oakland Clubhouse
RECAPS
Detroit 0
Cleveland 0
Texas 8
Baltimore 7
Minnesota 10
Oakland 5
Cincinnati 4
Pittsburgh 3
Houston 0
Milwaukee 0
Atlanta 3
San Francisco 2
Los Angeles 0
Chicago Cubs 0
San Diego 6
Florida 2
Arizona 8
Montreal 6
St. Louis 7
Philadelphia 2
Colorado 0
NY Mets 0
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