Athletics 7, Twins 4 (11): Derek Norris slammed a three-run homer in the top of the 11th inning as Oakland defeated host Minnesota for the eighth consecutive time.

Daric Barton walked and Alberto Callaspo hit a one-out single before Norris belted a no-doubt shot to left off Jared Burton (0-1). Athletics reliever Dan Otero (1-0) pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings and retired Trevor Plouffe on a liner to third with the bases loaded in the 11th to end it.

Jason Kubel went 4-for-5 with a homer to help the Twins recover from a four-run first-inning deficit with most of the damage coming after the exit of Oakland starter Jesse Chavez, who struck out a career-high nine while allowing one run and six hits in seven innings. Brian Dozier hit a one-out blast in the eighth off Sean Doolittle to make it 4-2 and Oakland closer Jim Johnson continued his poor start by being charged with two runs in the ninth.

Kubel’s single and two walks loaded the bases against Johnson before Eduardo Escobar’s bloop single to left plated a run and Dozier followed with a game-tying sacrifice fly to right off Otero to score Kurt Suzuki. Athletics manager Bob Melvin challenged both plays – Suzuki was ruled safe on a possible force at third on the first one and barely got his hand on home plate prior to the tag on the latter – and the ruling was withheld on each.

Twins starter Phil Hughes threw 44 pitches in a rocky first inning and gave up four runs and five hits in five innings. The first six Oakland hitters reached against Hughes with the runs scoring on Josh Donaldson’s RBI double off the right-center field fence, Brandon Moss’ two-run single and Callaspo’s run-scoring single.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Oakland had only one hit in a nine-inning stretch – a fifth-inning double by Donaldson – between the first-inning splurge and the decisive 11th-inning uprising. … Minnesota OF Oswaldo Arcia could be headed to the disabled list after missing his fourth straight game, while OF Josh Willingham (wrist) missed his second consecutive contest. … Athletics OF Coco Crisp (wrist) sat out for the second consecutive game.