Jorge Polanco homered in the sixth inning and four Minnesota pitchers saw to it that it was enough for the Twins to shut out the Oakland Athletics 1-0 on Saturday, who suffered their eighth straight loss.
Minnesota pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts and allowed just three hits. The Twins won again without manager Rocco Baldelli, who is suffering from COVID-19.
Polanco’s third home run of the season was a monumental shot, which sent the ball into suites behind center field — some 451 feet.
Polanco had three of Minnesota’s five hits.
Griffin Jax (2-0) got the win with 1 2/3 innings in relief. Dominican Jhoan Duran struck out five in two innings for his second save, although he walked and hit a pitch in the ninth.
The loss went to James Kaprielian (0-2).
For the Athletics, the Venezuelan Elvis Andrus 3-1. Dominican Cristian Pache 3-0.
For the Twins, the Dominicans Gilberto Celestino 1-0, Polanco 4-3 with a run scored and an RBI, Gary Sánchez 4-0. Puerto Rican José Miranda 2-0.