Athletics 4, Twins 1: Brett Anderson pitched seven superb innings in his return to the majors and host Oakland turned a triple play to down Minnesota.

Anderson (1-0), making his first start in 14 1/2 months after undergoing Tommy John surgery, allowed one run on four hits to earn his first victory since May 26, 2011. He struck out six and did not walk a batter, throwing 62 of his 86 pitches for strikes.

Josh Donaldson had two hits and an RBI and Derek Norris, Josh Reddick and Chris Carter contributed run-scoring hits as the Athletics won for the fifth time in six games to stay within one-half game of Baltimore for the second wild card slot.

Anderson retired nine straight after giving up a run in the first inning. He escaped a jam in the fifth when third baseman Donaldson fielded a grounder by Trevor Plouffe, stepped on the bag and threw to second baseman Adam Rosales, whose relay to Chris Carter completed the majors' third triple play this season.

Sean Doolittle needed just nine pitches to retire the side in the eighth before Grant Balfour earned his 12th save to hand Minnesota its 10th loss in 12 games.

Twins right-hander Cole De Vries (2-5) gave up two runs on six hits in 6 2/3 innings but dropped to 0-4 in his last nine starts.

Norris drove in the go-ahead run with an RBI single in the sixth before Reddick added a run-scoring single and Carter an RBI double in the seventh for a 4-1 lead.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Stephen Drew, acquired from Arizona on Monday, was hitless in four at-bats in his Oakland debut. ... The triple play was the first for Oakland since May 29, 2000. It was the 21st in franchise history and eighth since the team moved to Oakland. It also marked the eighth time that the Twins have hit into a triple play and first since Aug. 27, 2007. ... Following the acquisition of Drew, Oakland demoted 2B Jemile Weeks to Triple-A Sacramento. Cliff Pennington will platoon with Rosales at second base. ... Twins CF Denard Span (collarbone) took batting practice for the first time in over a week Tuesday. He was scheduled to undergo another MRI exam but was unable to due to claustrophobia. ... The Athletics activated DH Seth Smith and placed LHP Jordan Norberto on the 15-day disabled list. ... The Twins have shut down RHP Carl Pavano for the rest of the year with a bruise on his humerus bone. Pavano, who will become a free agent after the season, hasn't pitched since June 1.