MLB: Oakland 12, Minnesota 5

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- Mark Ellis and Daric Barton led a home run barrage Friday that sent Oakland rolling to a 12-5 blasting of Minnesota.

The Athletics hit five homers and took a 12-1 lead into the ninth inning, preventing the Twins from gaining ground in the chase for the American League Central pennant.

Division-leading Detroit also lost Friday, leaving the Tigers 5 1/2 games in front of the Twins.

Jack Cust opened the assault with a solo homer in the second and Cliff Pennington had another in the third. Ellis delivered a three-run shot later in the third and Barton had a three-run homer in the fifth.

Kurt Suzuki highlighted a three-run sixth with a two-run shot. Oakland had 17 hits overall in winning for the fourth time in five games.

The offensive display allowed Clayton Mortensen (1-2) to pick up his first major league victory in his third start. He gave up a run on five hits in six innings.

Nick Blackburn (9-11) suffered the loss after allowing six runs on six hits in three innings.