Twins carry optimism into series vs. slumping Athletics

Minnesota manager Rocco Baldelli isn't big on moral victories, but he was able to maintain a positive view after the Twins lost two of three to the host Seattle Mariners over the weekend.

The Twins will look to bounce back when they begin a four-game series against the Athletics on Monday in West Sacramento, Calif.

Minnesota lost for the fifth time in its last seven games on Sunday, when Randy Arozarena singled home the winning run in the ninth inning to give Seattle a 2-1 win.

Twins infielder Royce Lewis went 0-for-2 while batting ninth for the first time since his rookie season of 2022. Lewis is hitting .127 (9-for-71) and is mired in a 0-for-30 slump.

After Sunday's game, Baldelli praised his team's competitiveness in a series where two of the three games were decided in extra innings.

"I liked the way we played all series, and I hope we keep playing that way," Baldelli said. "We're going to score a few more runs than we did the last game and a half, but overall way more to like about this series than to be discouraged about."

The Athletics are looking for reasons to be encouraged after losing six straight games and 17 of their last 18.

The team's bullpen faltered again in an 8-4 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday. The Athletics led 4-2 before relievers Justin Sterner and Grant Holman combined to allow six runs (five earned) in the eighth inning.

"We're going to have to figure this out, how we get the ball to (closer) Mason (Miller) with the lead," Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. "That's been the biggest challenge so far ... we just haven't been able to close games right now."

Monday's pitching matchup features a pair of right-handers as the Athletics' Luis Severino (1-4, 3.89 ERA) is expected to start against Minnesota's Joe Ryan (5-2, 2.57).

Severino, 31, allowed two runs (one earned) over six innings in a no-decision against the Houston Astros last Wednesday.

Severino has allowed a total of three earned runs over his last three starts covering 18 innings. He recorded the 1,000th strikeout of his career in his last outing.

"I feel like that number should have been done years ago," Severino said. "I haven't been healthy, but now I am. I'm glad that I've done it."

Severino is 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 11 2/3 innings in three career starts versus Minnesota.

He is 0-4 with a 6.20 ERA in seven home starts this season, compared to 1-0 with a 0.87 mark in five outings away from Sacramento.

Ryan, 28, pitched six innings of one-run ball in a 4-2 win over the host Tampa Bay Rays last Tuesday.

"He had to expand his usage in ways he's not going to do most of the time," Baldelli said. "But when he has to, he can. It just shows adaptability. That's what the really good pitchers can do, just flip a switch."

Ryan is 1-0 with a 3.65 ERA over 12 1/3 innings in two career starts against the Athletics.

--Field Level Media