MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A.J. Griffin allowed two hits over seven innings Thursday in pitching the AL West-leading Oakland Athletics to an 8-2 victory over the Minnesota Twins.
Griffin (14-9) ran his personal winning streak to four consecutive starts. He walked one and struck out eight.
Griffin retired the first 10 batters he faced -- striking out six -- before giving up a hit. He had a string of nine consecutive batters retired before Oswaldo Arcia hit a home run with two out in the seventh. It was the only run Griffin allowed.
The A's were up 6-0 before the Arcia home run, however, getting to Twins starter Scott Diamond (5-11) for five runs (four earned) and six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Yoenis Cespedes had a two-run triple to cap a four-run Oakland rally in the third inning. Josh Donaldson had an RBI single in the fifth and Josh Reddick delivered a sacrifice fly an inning later that put the A's up 6-0.
Reddick hit a two-run home run in the eighth off Jared Burton.
The Twins got three hits, with Alex Preseley contributing an RBI single, in the eighth off reliever Dan Otero.
