Twins beat Athletics 9-6 as Matthews, Buxton fuel push
The Minnesota Twins beat the Athletics 9-6 on Monday night in West Sacramento, snapping a three-game skid behind Zebby Matthews' seven-inning gem and a vintage Byron Buxton night at the plate. The win keeps Minnesota in the American League Wild Card hunt and offered a clear postseason blueprint built around starting pitching and a healthy Buxton.
With barely over a month left in the 2026 season, every result matters for the Twins (64-68). Monday's victory at Sutter Health Park checked boxes that could define their stretch run against the Athletics and beyond.
Key Takeaways
- Zebby Matthews allowed one run over seven innings, winning his fourth straight August start and easing a battered Twins rotation.
- Byron Buxton went 3-for-4 with four runs scored and a walk — his best game in nearly two months.
- Josh Bell drove in three runs and Kaelen Culpepper collected four hits in just his 14th big-league game.
- The Athletics fell to 51-81 and 19-39 at home despite a late ninth-inning rally.
- Game 2 airs on NBC Sports California for Athletics fans tracking the series.
How Did Zebby Matthews Dominate the Athletics?
Matthews (8-8) gave up six hits and one walk while striking out seven over seven frames — matching a career high in innings and delivering only the third six-inning-plus start by a Twins pitcher in 12 games. His 23 swings-and-misses were the second most by a Twins starter this season.
The outing arrived at a critical moment. Since Joe Ryan went on the injured list Aug. 4, Minnesota starters posted a 5.32 ERA, fourth-worst in the Majors. Kendry Rojas, the team's projected sixth starter, was also placed on the Triple-A injured list. Ryan is expected to take a live batting-practice step Wednesday but remains roughly two weeks from returning.
Andrew Morris closed out a shaky ninth — Yoendrys Gomez surrendered back-to-back RBI doubles to Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler before Morris retired Tommy White for his fourth save — but the damage had already been done against Jeffrey Springs (3-12), who allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings.
Why Does Byron Buxton's Breakout Matter for the Twins?
Entering Monday, Buxton was hitting just .129/.270/.161 since his Aug. 13 reinstatement from a recurring hip issue. Minnesota went 3-6 in those nine games without its franchise star performing at MVP-caliber levels.
On Monday he looked like himself again: three hits, four runs, a walk, and aggressive baserunning that sparked a multi-run sixth capped by Luke Keaschall's two-run double. Manager Derek Shelton praised Buxton's patience, noting a challenged third-strike call that became a walk and opened the scoring when Bell doubled off the left-center wall.
Ryan Kreidler added a homer, and Culpepper singled home Josh Bell in the eighth for the Twins' final run. Right-handed depth — Keaschall's two doubles, Royce Lewis hitting the ball hard — showed Minnesota can stack a lineup that lefties dread.
Where Can Fans Watch the Twins-Athletics Series?
Monday's series opener drew attention beyond the box score for viewers following West Coast baseball. For the latest Streaming & TV Alerts on where games air regionally, Athletics broadcasts are available on NBC Sports California (NBCSCA), with radio on Talk 650 KSTE and the A's Cast feed.
Full box scores and pitch-by-pitch data are available through MLB.com's game recap.
What's Next for Both Teams?
Game 2 on Tuesday pits Twins right-hander Taj Bradley (9-5, 3.90 ERA) against Athletics rookie lefty Gage Jump (5-8, 4.83 ERA). Jump enters his 17th start seeking his 20th home win for an Oakland club still searching for consistency from its young rotation.
For Minnesota, stacking quality starts from Matthews and Bradley while Buxton stays hot is the formula that could keep Wild Card hopes alive down the stretch.