The Twins lost 3-2 Monday night in the first game of a 3-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics.  Oakland took a 3-0 lead and the Twins scored twice in the 8th inning but come up short.  Justin Duchscherer and Kirk Saarloos combined to throw 6 1/3 innings of shutout ball with Saarloos picking up the win.  Duchscherer left the game early with a hip injury.  Nick Blackburn started the game for the Twins and threw 8 innings with 3 earned runs allowed and he takes the loss to drop to 9-7.  Joe Mauer led the Twins at the plate going 3-4 with a run scored and 1 RBI and Denard Span went 2-4 with a run scored.  For the 2nd straight game centerfielder Carlos Gomez didn't start.  Gomez appeared in the 9th inning as a pinch runner.  The Twins are 1 game back of the White Sox for first place in the American League Central.  Chicago beat Seattle 13-5 Monday night.  The Twins host Oakland again tonight at 7:10, pregame on WJON at 6:40.  Righthander Kevin Slowey (9-8) gets the start on the mound for the Twins and righthander Sean Gallagher (4-5) toes the rubber for the A's.