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MINNEAPOLIS -- By the time Dan Straily took the mound for the second inning, he knew he just didnt have it. His velocity nowhere to be found, the 25-year-old right-hander took the next step in his maturation process by gritting his teeth, focusing on location and changing speeds over anything flashy and shutting down the Minnesota Twins. Straily pitched three-hit ball for seven innings and Sam Fuld hit a rare home run to help the Oakland Athletics complete a three-game sweep with a 6-1 victory Thursday. "Its part of learning from the past, from last year," said Straily (1-1), who gave up one run and struck out five. "On days when I didnt have my best stuff, I would try to pitch like I did and it would cost me. After the second inning, I realized I didnt have my A stuff in my arm today. So it was just a matter of mixing speeds and keeping everybody off balance. The Athletics rotation has opened the season with nine straight starts allowing three runs or less and has compiled a 1.93 ERA in 56 innings. "Theyve done a great job. So far, so good," Josh Donaldson said of the rotation. "Cant really complain about what theyve done. Thats what we expect from them." Fuld hit just his sixth homer in 738 career plate appearances and singled. Donaldson had a two-run homer and an RBI single for the Athletics (6-3). Mike Pelfrey (0-2) gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks in five innings. The Twins have had only one quality start in their first nine games. Brian Dozier hit his third home run of the season for Minnesota. Straily was selected in the 24th round of the 2009 draft, just another in the seemingly endless line of young, strong starting pitchers churned out by Billy Beanes Moneyball machine. Last year he led all AL rookies in starts, innings and strikeouts, and he brushed off the early homer to Dozier to slow down the Twins for the rest of the game. He allowed two baserunners -- both on walks -- over his final five innings "It wasnt his best velocity," manager Bob Melvin said. "He was throwing basically 87 mph today. But hes always got that slider in his pocket. He threw a few more changeups today and a few more curveballs, so he kept them off balance more than he typically pitches." Pelfrey had no such luck, labouring through another poor outing for Minnesotas starting rotation. Donaldsons homer in the third inning put him behind 3-1 and he walked No. 9 hitter Nick Punto in the fourth before Fuld yanked a pitch just over the wall in right field for a 5-1 lead. "I think all the way around, I was terrible today," Pelfrey said. The cushion allowed the As to avoid a save situation on the same day Melvin demoted struggling closer Jim Johnson, who is 0-2 with an 18.90 ERA in five appearances this season. The As will go with a closer-by-committee approach while they try to get Johnson straightened out, Melvin said. "Were all pulling for the same thing. Were all in it together," Straily said. "Its just a brotherhood mentality that we have in this clubhouse. Its something special." NOTES: The announced attendance of 20,650 was the smallest in Target Field history. ... Umpires reviewed a play in the sixth inning in which Jed Lowrie was thrown out at home by Twins CF Aaron Hicks. Umpires were looking to see if C Josmil Pinto was illegally blocking the plate. The call of an out was confirmed. ... Twins assistant GM Rob Antony said star prospect Byron Buxton likely will not start playing until May because of a wrist injury. ... The Twins open a series against Kansas City on Friday night. RHP Kyle Gibson (1-0, 1.80) will start the opener against Royals LHP Bruce Chen (0-0, 1.42). ... The Athletics head to Seattle for a series against the Mariners. LHP Tommy Milone will make his first start of the season on Friday night against Mariners RHP Felix Hernandez (2-0, 1.88). Cheap Texans Jerseys Authentic . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Lonnie Johnson Jersey .The other side of the Bruins special teams unit delivered in the end.Gregory Campbell netted the game-winner with less than 10 minutes remaining and the Bruins fended off a late four-minute San Jose power play to earn a wild 5-3 win over the Sharks. http://www.cheaptexansjerseysauthentic.c...charping-jersey. Wiggins, a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward who plays his first exhibition game on Wednesday against Pitt State, was the top prospect in the class of 2013. J.J. Watt Jersey . James Jones got his turn Sunday. And the lift he brought, combined with the expected playoff showings from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, have the Heat off and running in these playoffs. Andre Johnson Jersey . -- Damian Lillard couldnt believe when he got a clear look at the rim.WICHITA, Kan. -- Fred VanVleet had 22 points and seven rebounds and No. 5 Wichita State remained undefeated with a 72-50 victory over Bradley on Tuesday night. Darius Carter added 11 points for the Shockers (18-0, 5-0 Missouri Valley Conference), who extended school records for winning streak and best start to a season in the first game as a top 5 team since 1981. After overcoming a 19-point, second-half deficit in its last game, Wichita State took any mystery out of this game pretty quickly. Walt Lemon scored 12 points, Tyshon Pickett added 11 and Omari Grier had 10 for Bradley (6-12, 1-4). Those three were a combined 12 of 37 from the field. The Shockers two leading scorers, Cleanthony Early and Ron Baker, combined for just 13 points in 40 minutes, and it didnt really matter. Bradley pulled within 15-14 on 3-pointer with 8:27 remaining in the first half. But the Braves made just one field goal over the next 5 minutes, allowing Wichita State to pull away. A 3-pointer by Baker keyed a 10-0 run. Minutes later, VanVleet scored five straight points to give the Shockers a 32-18 lead. After Bradleys Mason Alwan made a layup, the Shockers Derail Green took over. That wwas quite unexpected as Green had played in just 12 games this season, logging more than 5 minutes only twice.dddddddddddd He entered Tuesdays game averaging less than a point. But given early playing time due to Evan Wessels ankle injury, Green shined. He hit a 3-pointer, two free throws and another 3-pointer in a span of 62 seconds, pushing Wichita States lead to 40-20 with 1:35 left in the half. The Shockers did not take long to improve on a 40-23 halftime lead. Four free throws by Chadrack Lufile and a three-point play from VanVleet made it 47-23 with 17:47 remaining. Wichita States lead was so comfortable, walk-on John Simon, who had played a total of 23 minutes this season, entered the game with more than 13 minutes remaining. The Shockers lead continued to grow. A 3 by VanVleet with 5:59 remaining gave Wichita State a 70-38 lead, and the Shockers cruised to their eighth straight win over the Braves. VanVleet was 7 of 10 from the field and has scored at least 16 points in four of Wichita States last five games. Bradley had not played a conference game against a top 5 opponent since an 82-80 overtime loss at No. 4 Louisville on Jan. 4, 1975. 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