Major League Baseball
Oakland 14, Minnesota 1
When: 4:05 PM ET, Sunday, July 19, 2015
Where: O.co Coliseum, Oakland, California
Temperature: 78°
Umpires: Home - Gabe Morales, 1B - Alfonso Marquez, 2B - Tom Hallion, 3B - Dan Bellino
Attendance: 20286

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Left fielder Jake Smolinski has begun to reward the Oakland Athletics for showing faith in him.

Smolinski hit a pair of homers and right fielder Josh Reddick hit a grand slam, highlighting an Oakland A's display of power that featured a season-high five home runs in a 14-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.

"I was trying to get a good pitch to hit," said Smolinski, who recorded his first career multi-homer game in just his fourth game with the A's. "It was a good day for everybody. Pitchers pitched great, hitters hit great. It was just a fun win."

Smolinski, who was claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers a month ago and called up to the majors two weeks ago, had a big day at the plate less than 24 hours after delivering a game-tying pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth.

"I can't say enough about the guys here," Smolinski said. "From day one they have welcomed me. Everybody wants to contribute and I'm just trying to do my part right now."

Catcher Josh Phegley and designated hitter Billy Butler also homered. The first three were off Twins starter Tommy Milone.

Reddick hit his slam against reliever J.R. Graham in the fifth and Smolinski added a three-run shot against Trevor May in the eighth.

"It was a matter of getting out of the third and it just didn't happen," Milone said. "It's extremely frustrating, especially as good as I felt coming out. It seemed like I was one pitch away on every batter."

A's starter Jesse Chavez (5-9) ended a three-game losing streak after giving up three hits in six scoreless innings. He walked one and struck out nine.

Chavez entered the game with the fifth-lowest run support in the American League, getting two runs or fewer in 10 starts. That changed Sunday as he improved to 2-6 in day games.

"I felt good. I felt refreshed," Chavez said. "I felt awkward out there for just a couple innings, but after that it felt normal again. It was fun to get back out there after the long break."

Milone (5-2) fell to 3-1 in day starts. Milone allowed a season-high seven runs, five earned, in 2 2/3 innings. He gave up five hits, did not walk a batter and struck out four in the first start against his former team. It was Milone's shortest start since lasting 1 1/3 innings against the Kansas City Royals last Aug. 17, his second start with the Twins.

"We opened the door with a misplay and then they hit the home run," Twins manager Paul Molitor said. "The ball was flying out today and they took advantage. The first seven runs were with two outs. Those are tough."

The Twins avoided a shutout when Shane Robinson tripled in a run in the ninth.

The Athletics, who won their fourth in five games, flexed their collective muscles to take an early 11-0 lead.

Phegley hit a two-run shot with two outs in the second to start the barrage.

Milone allowed his first home run in 36 innings, a span of five starts dating to June 12. The three long balls in less than three innings matched Milone's output for the month of June.

The A's added five runs in the third, all with two outs. The rally began when Milone hit Mark Canha with a pitch. Zobrist followed with an RBI double and Butler hit a two-run shot, his second homer in as many days. Smolinski followed with a solo shot and Lawrie singled, ending Milone's night. Lawrie scored when Phegley doubled off Graham.

"A lot of these guys do have the power to be productive," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "We felt like we have the guys to be able to be consistent against lefties. We’ve been in spurts. You see the potential, it’s just not as consistent as we’d like to this point."

Butler and Smolinski each singled to open the fifth. Graham hit Phegley to set the stage for Reddick's third career slam on the first pitch he saw.

NOTES: Twins DH Miguel Sano showed up at O.Co Coliseum in Oakland on Sunday using crutches, the result of a sprained right ankle suffered in pre-game drills on Saturday. Twins manager Paul Molitor, who thought it might be 3-5 days, said he didn't notice any difference in Sano's swing but that hitting coach Tom Brunansky told him Sano opened up his front foot while landing, subconsciously protecting the ankle. ... Twins SS Danny Santana impressed Molitor since returning to the big leagues following a stint in the minors. "The challenge with him is that it's tougher to be consistent when his playing time is erratic," Molitor said. ... A's RHP/LHP Pat Venditte (strained right shoulder) will throw batting practice in Stockton for the Class A Ports on Monday. He will throw 15 pitches with each arm. ... A's RHP Taylor Thompson (strained right shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment with Stockton on Tuesday. He is scheduled to throw an inning. Thompson has been on the DL all season. ... A's OF Coco Crisp (cervical strain) began baseball activities on Saturday following a bout with kidney stones, taking dry swings.
Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Minnesota   Oakland
Tommy Milone Player Jesse Chavez
Loss W/L Win
2.2 IP 6.0
4 Strikeouts 9
5 Hits 3
16.88 ERA 0.00
Hitting
Minnesota   Oakland
Eduardo Escobar Player Jake Smolinski
1 Hits 3
0 RBI 4
0 HR 2
1 TB 9
1.000 Avg .600
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Minnesota 7 0 11 .206 15 14 1 1 0 3
Oakland 12 5 29 .308 12 6 14 0 0 0