OAKLAND -- Bobby Kielty won't be throwing a baseball any time soon but he'll stay in the Twins lineup as he continues his offensive production.
Kielty, who has a rib cage injury that only affects his throwing ability, homered and drove in three runs as the Minnesota Twins defeated the Oakland Athletics, 6-5, on Thursday to win their third-straight road series.
"All I can do is soft toss with nothing on the ball," said Kielty. "It's pretty weak in there and I have to be patient and let it heal properly."
There's nothing wrong with his hitting, though, as he helped the Twins win for the 17th time in their last 22 games. The home run was his seventh, which ties Torii Hunter for the team lead. Kielty has also driven in 24 runs, third on the team.
"I'm just trying to take pitches and give myself an opportunity," he said.
Hunter and A.J. Pierzynski each had three hits and also drove in runs as the Twins overcame both John Halama and the Athletics' success at home to win for the seventh time in nine games.
"We're playing pretty good right now," said Hunter. "We came here and beat a pretty good team. I hope we meet each other in the playoffs again. That would mean we're both playing good."
Halama (2-3) brought a 6-0 lifetime record against Minnesota into the contest but the Twins scored five runs on eight hits against him in six innings. He walked four and struck out three. It was also his first home loss of the season.
The A's had not lost a home series previously and still have the best home record in the Major Leagues.
"Halama has dominated us in the past," said winning pitcher Joe Mays. "This time the guys went out and swung the bats. That was huge what they did."
Mays (5-3) won his second straight start despite allowing four runs on five hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out two. Mays has not lost in four career starts in Oakland.
"It's been a battle all year just trying to throw the ball over the plate and keep it in the park," said Mays. "I made a lot of pitches. I was trying to get ahead of those guys and they try to go deep in the count."
As though the Twins needed any more injuries at first base, Matthew LeCroy left the game after the first inning with inflammation of the patella tendon in his left knee. LeCroy, who has suffered from tendinitis in the kneecap before, missed several games last week because of a broken nose. Doug Mientkiewicz is unavailable to start because of a sprained ankle and Todd Sears sustained a sore back while catching a pop foul on Tuesday.
"I've had it before but nothing like this," said LeCroy. "It seems like it's hitting the whole team.
"It's a weird deal," said Kielty.
The Twins moved 1 ½ games ahead of the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central as they head to Seattle for a three-game series with the AL West-leading Mariners.
Kielty gave Minnesota the early lead with his seventh home run of the season, a two-run shot into the left field bleachers with one out in the third. Jacque Jones doubled to lead off the inning.
The A's came back to take a 3-2 lead in their half of the third. Mark Ellis walked and Chris Singleton doubled ahead of Eric Byrnes' sacrifice fly. After Scott Hatteberg singled, Eric Chavez hit a two-run triple.
Chavez's drive just eluded Hunter, who lost the ball in a sea of white shirts, allowing it to roll to the fence. He said he never saw it off the bat.
"I don't misjudge balls," said Hunter. "With all those white shirts in the background it made it tough. Yesterday I didn't see some balls either. It's scary. Every time we come to Oakland it's tough to see in day games."
Minnesota took the lead for good in the fourth. Chris Gomez doubled and Pierzynski followed with an RBI single. Kielty later walked with the bases loaded and Hunter singled in a run.
Byrnes cut the lead to 5-4 with a solo home run in the fifth.
The Twins had another scoring opportunity against A's relief pitcher Mike Neu in the seventh. Hunter doubled and Dustan Mohr singled to put runners on the corner. Gomez's fly ball was too shallow to score Hunter but Mohr advanced to second. Pierzynski was walked intentionally but Luis Rivas grounded sharply to Chavez, who turned it into a double play.
Rivas did add an important insurance run when he singled off Micah Bowie to score Gomez, who had tripled, with two outs in the ninth to make it 6-4.
Ellis made it 6-5 with his fourth home run of the season, a solo shot with two outs in the ninth.
The Twins' bullpen, which combined to retire the first 11 batters they faced, and 12 of 13 overall, continued their impressive streak. Juan Rincon, J.C. Romero, LaTroy Hawkins and Eddie Guardado, who earned his 12th save in as many opportunities, combined to toss four shutout innings to preserve the win for Mays.
"It's been like that all year," said Mays. "When you go to any one of those four guys, it's pretty much lights out. That's one of our strong points." Minnesota's bullpen ERA of 2.58 is second in the AL only to Anaheim (2.51) and third lowest in the majors.