OAKLAND, CALIF. – Twins manager Ron Gardenhire praised his bullpen, along with the hitters who came up with the big at-bats late in Wednesday night’s 6-3 comeback victory over Oakland.

After Francisco Liriano gave up the lead in the fourth inning, Oakland didn’t get another hit until Jason Giambi hit his two-out double off Joe Nathan in the ninth.

That span included a scoreless inning by Luis Ayala, two outs from Jose Mijares and one from Matt Guerrier.

“Our bullpen came in and did a super job,” Gardenhire said.

KUBEL DELIVERS

That’s three home runs in 60 career pinch hit plate appearances for Jason Kubel. He also had a two-run, game-tying shot off Detroit’s Joel Zumaya on May 13.

Gardenhire didn’t hesitate to use Kubel to lead off the eighth.

“I had predetermined that the inning before,” Gardenhire said. “I said Kube’s going to lead off if they bring in the righty. I wasn’t sure if they were going to take out the lefty [Dallas Braden] or not.”

Kubel knew his job wasn’t to set the table there.

“I was basically trying to do one thing, and that’s tie the game,” Kubel said. “I was able to swing hard enough to do that.”

LIRIANO PUSHES FORWARD

Liriano wasn’t great, but he delivered his second quality start of the road trip, even if he doesn’t have a win to show for it.

“I feel a lot better because I had three pretty bad starts [before the trip],” Liriano said. “Even if I didn’t get the win, we still got the win. As long as I pitch better, I’m going to get the wins sooner or later.”

Liriano knows he missed with some pitches as Oakland took the lead in the fourth inning. But he had other good moments.

“I was throwing the ball down,” he said. “I think my mechanics are getting better, too. I think I’ve just got to stay more relaxed and not try to make perfect pitches. I told myself to calm down.”

YOUNG HITTING BETTER

Delmon Young’s chopper up the middle gave the Twins a 4-3 lead in the ninth. This came after Joe Crede’s leadoff triple, and Michael Cuddyer’s frustrating foul out.

Young has a five-game hitting streak and has batted .333 (6-for-18) in that span, including his three RBI game Tuesday.

“I talked to Delmon the other day about how we need him to get going,” Gardenhire said. “He’s been through a whole lot, and it’s been a rough time for him. So it’s time to — let’s go, extra work, the whole package, and see if you can focus out here now and really get going for us.

“Because he can be a really good player for us if he gets rolling. That’s all we’re hoping for. He makes a big difference for our lineup if he gets swinging and drives in runs.”

Note: Check back here for Thursday’s afternoon’s starting lineups, as the Twins try to win their second road series of the season.

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