MLB: Minnesota 7, Oakland 2

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OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Josh Willingham and Joe Mauer each went 3-for-5 with two RBI Monday, powering the Minnesota Twins to a 7-2 victory over Oakland.

Willingham opened the scoring with an RBI double in the first inning and made it 4-0 for Minnesota with an RBI single in the second.

After the Athletics had narrowed the gap to 4-2, Mauer came through with a two-run single in the fourth to ice the contest.

Darin Mastroianni knocked in a pair of runs for the Twins, who took the opener of a three-game series.

Brian Duensing (3-8) broke a personal three-start winless streak, limiting the A's to two runs (one earned) on five hits over six innings. The left-hander walked one and struck out seven.

Oakland's Brandon McCarthy (6-5) was tagged for six runs on 10 hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Josh Reddick and Josh Donaldson each drove in a run for the A's, who remained a half game out of an American League wild-card spot.