MINNEAPOLIS — Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs left Sunday’s start against the Minnesota Twins in the second inning with right hip discomfort.
Springs allowed three runs in the first inning and motioned to the dugout to visit the mound two pitches into an at-bat against Austin Martin with two on and one out. The 33-year-old left without testing the injury after talking with manager Mark Kotsay and the A’s trainer. The Twins went on to beat the Athletics 11-8 in the rubber match of a three-game series.
The Athletics plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028, when they are scheduled to open play at a new ballpark on the Strip.
Springs has struggled since a strong start to the season, going 0-9 with a 7.71 ERA over his last 17 starts. He’s 3-9 with a 5.96 ERA overall after going 11-11 with the A’s last season.
Springs (3-10) allowed five runs, four earned, in 1 1/3 innings and was replaced by Luis Morales.
Athletics hitting coach Chris Cron was ejected by plate umpire Chad Fairchild in the second.
Ryan Jeffers went 3 for 5 with three RBIs, Connor Prielipp threw 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his return from the injured list for the Twins.
Kody Clemens was 3 for 5 with two triples and an RBI, and Ryan Kreidler doubled three times and drove in a run.
Prielipp (3-5), who had been sidelined by a blister on his middle finger, allowed two hits and one walk while striking out five.
Nick Kurtz hit a three-run homer for the Athletics in the sixth. Jeff McNeil and Carlos Cortes each drove in two runs.
Royce Lewis reached when he grounded into an run-scoring fielder’s choice and stole second base before Clemens hit an RBI triple and scored on a throwing error by shortstop Alika Williams to give Minnesota a 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Alex Jackson scored from third after Morales balked with the bases loaded, and Jeffers followed with a two-run single that made it 6-0 in the second.
Kreidler doubled leading off the fourth, stole third base and scored on a throwing error by catcher Jonah Heim to push the lead to 7-0.
Kreidler doubled and stole third base before he scored on a sacrifice fly by Austin Martin in the sixth to make it 8-3.
