Oakland, CA -- Matthew LeCroy singled in Joe Mauer in the ninth inning as the Minnesota Twins edged the Oakland Athletics, 2-1.

Michael Ryan homered for the Twins, who won despite just four hits. Minnesota took two of the three contests in the series at the Coliseum and has won three of its last four games overall. The Twins also won their first road series since taking two of three at Arizona from June 7-9.

Rich Harden allowed just one run, one hit, walked four and struck out nine over eight innings for the A's, but Justin Duchscherer (6-3) was saddled with the defeat.

Carlos Silva scattered seven hits and one run in seven innings for the Twins. Juan Rincon (5-4) threw the eighth inning to get the win, while Joe Nathan retired the side in order in the ninth for his 29th save.

Mauer doubled to left field leading off the ninth and moved to third on a grounder by Justin Morneau. LeCroy then singled up the middle.

Jason Kendall had two hits for the A's, who lost for just the third time in 10 games. Oakland fell one game behind the Angels for the AL West lead.

This also marked Oakland's first series loss at home since May 13-15, when the A's were swept in a three-game set by the Yankees.

Ryan homered to right field leading off the third, but the Athletics tied the game in the sixth. Kendall and Mark Kotsay singled to start the inning to put runners at the corners, but Bobby Crosby grounded into a double play as Kendall crossed the plate.

The A's didn't get a hit after the sixth inning, as Minnesota pitchers retired the final 10 Oakland batters.

The Twins had won the series opener on Friday, 1-0.

GAME NOTES

The game lasted two hours, four minutes...The Twins had an 0-7-1 road series record until Sunday's victory...Minnesota has scored three runs or less in 18 of 31 games since the All-Star break...The Twins had lost their last seven day games...The A's are now 13-3 in one-run games at home, with two of those defeats coming in this series...This was only Nathan's fourth save opportunity since the All-Star break...Before the game, the A's put rightfielder Nick Swisher on the bereavement list.