Oakland A's crushed Minnesota Twins 14-3 on June 5, 2025, spoiling David Festa's MLB debut. Tyler Soderstrom & Brent Rooker powered the A's offense. Read more!
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Well, Twins Territory, that was a tough one to swallow. The highly anticipated MLB debut of right-hander David Festa unfortunately coincided with a brutal 14-3 beatdown at the hands of the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night, sending the Twins home from their 10-game road trip on a decidedly sour note. It was a game most will want to forget, but one that certainly had its talking points.
Sometimes the game just punches you in the mouth. For David Festa, his MLB debut was a haymaker, and the A's didn't stop swinging until the final out.
All eyes were on David Festa as he took the mound for the first time in a Major League game, recalled earlier that day from Triple-A St. Paul. Unfortunately, the A's offense, which had been slumbering through a nine-game losing streak, woke up in a big way. Festa's debut lasted just 3 2/3 innings, during which he was tagged for 7 runs. The Athletics really broke it open with a grand slam and a two-run homer from Tyler Soderstrom, while Max Muncy had already set a rough tone with a three-run blast in the first. Former Twin Brent Rooker also had a big night against his old club, collecting three hits, three RBIs, and scoring three times. The Twins' offense was minimal in comparison; Matt Wallner managed a solo home run, Ty France doubled in a run, and Brooks Lee chipped in with an RBI single. Things got so out of hand that infielder Jonah Bride even made his MLB pitching debut, tossing two innings and giving up two runs. It was certainly not the outcome anyone in Minnesota was hoping for.
The loss to Oakland marked the end of a long 10-game road trip for the Twins. While every team hits rough patches, ending a significant stretch away from home with such a lopsided defeat is never ideal. The good news? The Twins are finally heading back to Target Field. They'll open a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays tonight, Friday, June 6th. And perhaps the best news of all is that Bailey Ober will be on the bump. Ober has been a steadying force for the Twins this season, boasting a 4-1 record and a solid 3.48 ERA. His presence will be crucial as the team looks to immediately bounce back and wash away the taste of Thursday's defeat. The Blue Jays have yet to announce their starter, but the focus for Minnesota will be on their own game and getting back to winning ways in front of the home crowd.
Beyond Festa's call-up, which was unfortunately the day's biggest news for all the wrong reasons, the farm system report was quiet. No other significant moves or standout performances were reported for June 6th. The focus will likely remain on Festa and how the team manages its pitching staff moving forward, especially after a game that taxed the bullpen, even with an infielder pitching.
It's a quick turnaround, and the Twins will need to flush this one fast. A return to the friendly confines of Target Field and a reliable arm in Bailey Ober on the mound offers a chance for an immediate reset. Let's hope the boys can shake off this road trip finale and come out swinging against the Blue Jays. Go Twins!
