MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kevin Slowey held Oakland without a hit for seven innings and Minnesota took a team no-hitter into the eighth as the Twins defeated the Athletics 4-2 on Sunday.
Slowey combined with Jon Rauch, Jesse Crain and Matt Capps to limit Oakland to three hits, completing the Twins’ fifth series sweep of the season and third since the All-Star break.
Jason Kubel drove in the first run for the Twins and Jim Thome homered for a Minnesota team that will open a key AL Central series against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday. The Twins (68-50) also moved 18 games over .500, their best record in nearly two years.
Slowey, who missed his last start because of a sore elbow, was congratulated by teammates, coaches and manager Ron Gardenhire when he finished the seventh inning. At that point, Slowey had thrown 106 pitches, his second-highest total of the season.
