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		A's open road trip with a win By Morris Phillips August 18, 2008
	Oakland Athletics pitcher Kirk Saarloos, who came in for the injured starter Justin Duchscherer, tires to pick off Minnesota Twins' Denard Span in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 18, 2008 in Minneapolis. The Athletics beat the Twins 3-2. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
	Mark Ellis said he wasn't happy with the schedule makers who have the A's ending August and starting September with 20 out of 24 games on the road. And you can imagine that he wasn't happy on Sunday when the A's were routed 13-1 by the White Sox. For that matter, the post All-Star break skid in which the A's have dropped 22 of 28 probably hasn't sat well with Ellis either. And while we're at it, his contract situation for next year probably has Ellis unsettled too. He's rumored to be the next high-priced Athletic to be on his way out of town. But give Ellis credit. When he stepped in the batter's box Monday in the Metrodome, he didn't seem to be thinking about any of that. In fact, he clearly had the scouting report on Twin's starter Nick Blackburn on his mind. Blackburn allowed a leadoff homer in his last start, and the book says get after him early and take advantage of his propensity to throw pitches in and around the strike zone. So that's what Ellis did, sending his first pitch of the game over the left field wall for a 1-0 A's lead. And apparently the early jump allowed the whole team to relax and get back in character. Incredibly, in the 3-2 win over the Twins, the A's looked like the A's--at least like the A's of May and June. With Justin Duchscherer feeling discomfort in his hip--the same hip that ended his 2007 season--the whole team had to suck it up. First Kirk Saarloos, just up from Sacramento, then Alan Embree, Huston Street and new closer Brad Ziegler provided tough minded pitching. Jack Cust, who has struggled mightily, didn't strike out, and then chipped in a couple of knocks. Kurt Suzuki got the clutch hit, driving in two big runs. And with the Dome crowd ringing in their collective ears, the A's held tough, even when Joe Mauer's triple, coupled with an interference call on Jack Hannahan, got the Twins within a run in the eighth. A nice win for a team starving for any good news. But now they need good news from the doctor. Duchscherer, who said his hip flared up in his last start against Tampa Bay, is expected to fly back to Oakland and get examined. Hopefully, the news won't be devastating. The A's continue their series with Minnesota on Tuesday with Sean Gallagher facing Kevin Slowey.