MINNEAPOLIS -- - Tyler Soderstrom went 4 for 4 to stretch his hitting streak to 19 straight games, and the Athletics swept the Minnesota Twins with an 8-3 victory on Thursday.

Lawrence Butler had a three-run double, Brent Rooker added an RBI double and Nick Kurtz hit his 26th homer of the season for the young A's , who have won eight of their last 11 games and are 18-13 since the All-Star break.

Soderstrom, who also walked to reach base all five times he batted, logged his first career four-hit game. He's batting .370 with eight doubles, four homers and 14 RBI in 73 at-bats during his hitting streak, which is the longest active run in the majors.

A's rookie Jack Perkins (3-2) won his third straight start, allowing two runs in five innings, and Osvaldo Bido earned a three-

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