Vargas provided the offense early against A's right-hander Kendall Graveman, who walked the bases loaded in the first. Vargas made Graveman pay with a broken-bat two-run single to give Minnesota an early lead. He later connected on a three-run blast in the third.
Graveman was charged with a season-high six runs on five hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings. He was helped at the plate by a two-run shot from Yonder Alonso, his sixth of the year and his second in as many days. But it wasn't enough for the A's, who have lost eight of nine.