A's hit four homers to back Montas, beat Twins 6-1

Ramón Laureano hit the first of Oakland's four homers and Frankie Montas pitched six effective innings, helping the Athletics beat the sliding Minnesota Twins 6-1 on Friday night.

Sean Murphy and Stephen Piscotty each hit a two-run shot, and Mark Canha contributed a pinch-hit homer. The Athletics have won five of seven.

Montas (5-2) allowed one run and four hits in his third straight win. He is 3-0 with a 3.11 ERA in three May starts after posting a 6.20 ERA in five starts in April.

Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Shoemaker (32) throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)

Matt Shoemaker (2-4) allowed three of the home runs for the Twins. He surrendered five runs in six innings.

Josh Donaldson homered for Minnesota, which has lost five games in a row.

Laureano connected for his eighth homer of the season, a two-out solo drive in the third. Murphy added his fifth homer in the fifth, and Piscotty followed an inning later with his fourth.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas throws to a Minnesota Twins batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, May 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)

Montas kept the Twins off the board until Donaldson’s leadoff homer in the sixth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: INF/OF Chad Pinder was reinstated from the injured list after missing 35 games with a sprained left knee. Vimael Machín was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas but will remain with the team on the road trip as part of the taxi squad. ... LHP A.J. Puk was scheduled for another Triple-A rehab appearance on Friday for Las Vegas. He has missed 33 games with a strained left biceps. ... Manager Bob Melvin said LHP Jesús Luzardo is throwing up to 60 feet in his rehab from a fractured left hand. Luzardo has not advanced to bullpen work yet.

Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy (12) is congratulated by Seth Brown on his two-run home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Shoemaker during the fifth inning of a baseball game Friday, May 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)

Twins: OF Alex Kirilloff has been taking part in baseball activities, including taking dry swings, as he recovers from a right wrist sprain. ... OF Byron Buxton (right hip strain) was playing catch before the game, but he hasn’t started running. There is still no timeline for his return.

UP NEXT

LHP Cole Irvin (3-4, 3.29 ERA) will start Saturday’s afternoon contest for Oakland. Minnesota counters with RHP José Berríos (3-2, 3.49 ERA). Irvin has a 2.01 ERA, 32 strikeouts and just four walks in 31 1/3 innings in his past five starts after going 0-2 with a 7.45 ERA in his first two starts. Berríos allowed one run in five innings against the Athletics on April 20.

Oakland Athletics' Sean Murphy (12) is congratulated by Seth Brown on his two-run home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Shoemaker during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)

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Oakland Athletics' Ramon Laureano (22) is congratulated by third base coach Mark Kotsay as he jogs home on a solo home run off Minnesota Twins pitcher Matt Shoemaker during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, May 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)

Minnesota Twins left fielder Luis Arraez cannot reach a fly ball off the bat of Oakland Athletics' Mark Canha for a solo home run in the eighth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 14, 2021, in Minneapolis. (AP PhotoJim Mone)