Lawrence Butler ignited a six-run second inning with a bases-clearing double, Nick Kurtz launched his 26th home run and rookie Jack Perkins combined with two relievers on a five-hitter, allowing the Athletics to complete a rare three-game road sweep of the Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 victory Thursday afternoon.

The Minnesota Twins came into Thursday’s matinee desperate to avoid a sweep against the cellar-dwelling Oakland West Sacramento Athletics. Instead, they fell flat, undone by one disastrous inning and a sputtering offense in an 8–3 loss at Target Field.

The results have been mixed and were anything but pretty on Thursday when José Ureña, who threw 5⅔ scoreless innings and allowed just two hits against the Detroit Tigers last weekend, was rocked on Thursday in the Twins’ 8-3 loss to the Athletics. “I couldn’t get us out,” Ureña said. “Sometimes it’s a little bit difficult.”

Twins starter José Ureña (0–1) ran into trouble in the second after two quick outs. A hit-by-pitch and a pair of basehits loaded the bases for Lawrence Butler, who cleared them with a double to left. Oakland added three more runs in the frame, building a 6–0 lead the Twins couldn’t recover from. The Twins couldn’t even get halfway there.

Aug 20, 2025; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers (23) hits a two run home run in the tenth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images / Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images

The Twins have a 1-5 record on their current homestand against Detroit and the A’s, one of two teams with a worse record in the American League.

After taking the series opener in Minnesota last night the A’s will try to make it two in a row over the Twins, looking to both inch closer to 60 wins while burying the Twins’ dwindling playoff chances.