Game Preview: Athletics At Twins

(AP) - The Minnesota Twins wasted little time getting back in a groove at the plate and back in the win column following the end to a five-game run.

The Twins will next try to reach a mark they haven't seen in five years Thursday against the Oakland Athletics while aiding Ricky Nolasco's attempt to build on his victorious return from the disabled list.

Minnesota (15-13) was held to five singles in a 2-1 loss to Oakland (12-17) on Tuesday, snapping its longest win streak in two seasons, but rebounded with a 13-0 rout Wednesday that featured 12 hits. Eddie Rosario homered on the first pitch he saw as a major leaguer and Eduardo Escobar went 3 for 4 with five RBIs.

The Twins are batting .325 and have produced 63 runs while winning seven of nine. They hit .228 and scored 64 runs in the first 19 games.

"It's kind of a thing I like to look at, how we respond even though it's early," manager Paul Molitor said. "It was a nice bounce back. ... We were able to find a way to win a game and do it convincingly."

Nolasco (1-1, 10.13 ERA) got enough support for a 5-3 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in his first game back from an inflamed elbow. The right-hander allowed three runs in five innings after being tagged for six over three in an 11-0 loss at Detroit in his only other start April 8.

Nolasco will face Oakland for the first time since June 29, 2011, and he's 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA in two matchups. Another strong outing against the A's might get Minnesota to three games above .500 for the first time since it finished 94-68 in 2010.

The Twins have lost 383 games in the past four seasons, surpassing 90 defeats each time.

Oakland is on the verge of dropping six games below .500 for the first time since it was 29-35 on June 14, 2012. The A's have a 5.50 ERA over the past 12 games with their starters posting a 4.56 mark.

Oakland is 7-13 since its only set of back-to-back wins April 13-14.

"It's very frustrating," manager Bob Melvin said. "There was a great feeling in here (Tuesday) after we won a hard-fought game. ... We just couldn't put together a good game."

The A's might not have too much success in this one as they're 1-8 in day games.

They'll send out Drew Pomeranz, who is 0-2 with a 6.20 ERA in his last four outings. The left-hander gave up three runs and eight hits over 5 1-3 innings in Saturday's 8-7 loss in 10 at Texas.

Pomeranz (1-2, 4.61) will pitch against Minnesota for the first time and no player on the Twins has faced him.

Brett Lawrie is 3 for 5 with a double against Nolasco, and he's riding a 10-game hitting streak in which he's batted .450 in the last five.

Updated May 7, 2015