Minneapolis, MN (My Sportsbook) - Doug Mientkiewicz belted a two-run homer and added two hits during a seven-run fourth inning, as the Minnesota Twins remained alive with an 11-2 victory over Oakland in Game 4 of their American League Division Series. The best-of-five matchup is tied at two wins apiece, with Game 5 scheduled for Sunday at the Coliseum in Oakland.

Mientkiewicz singled twice, drove in a run and scored a run in the fourth- inning uprising, which was aided by two errors, two wild pitches and a hit batsman. Five of the seven runs in the frame were unearned.

"With this group, it seems like our backs have been against the wall since we were born," said Mientkiewicz.

Torii Hunter was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI for the Twins, who banged out 12 hits.

Eric Milton, making his first career post-season start, worked seven innings for the win. Milton (1-0) allowed only two runs on six hits, walked one and struck out three.

"Milty did what we needed to have done," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "It was a great performance."

Miguel Tejada hit a two-run homer and Jermaine Dye went 3-for-3 for the Athletics, who will face their third consecutive Game 5 in the ALDS. Oakland had a two-games-to-none cushion against the New York Yankees in last season's first round, before losing the series. They were also knocked out in five games by the Yankees in 2000.

Tim Hudson (0-1) suffered the loss after surrendering seven runs -- two earned -- on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. He walked two and fanned four. Ted Lilly took over for Hudson and yielded four runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

The game was tied 2-2 heading to the bottom of the fourth. However, Minnesota sent 11 men to the plate in the inning and scored seven times to take command. Mientkiewicz opened with a single and took second one out later when A.J. Pierzynski walked. Luis Rivas then hit a grounder to short and Tejada tried to get the force at third. However, his throw was high and sailed into the dugout for an error. Mientkiewicz scored on the play and the Twins were left with runners on second and third.

Hudson then uncorked a wild pitch that enabled Pierzynski to score and Rivas to move to third. After Jacque Jones was hit by a pitch, Cristian Guzman hit a grounder to first base. Scott Hatteberg fielded the grounder and threw home, but the ball short-hopped the catcher for an error allowing Rivas to cross the plate to make it 5-2. Hudson was then lifted in favor of Lilly, who yielded a run-scoring single to Corey Koskie.

David Ortiz struck out, before Guzman scored on a wild pitch by Lilly. Hunter followed with an RBI double and then scored the ninth Minnesota run on a base hit by Mientkiewicz. Mike Cuddyer flied out to finally conclude the frame.

"It just started snowballing," Hudson said. "They did a great job of taking advantage of our miscues. That's what they're good at."

Oakland had two men on base with one out in the sixth, but David Justice grounded out and Mark Ellis popped out to end the inning.

The Twins then increased their advantage to 11-2 in the seventh, as Hunter led off with a single against Lilly and scored on Mientkiewicz's second home run of the series. Minnesota almost scored again in the inning, but Dustan Mohr was nailed at the plate trying to score on Rivas' double.

Oakland grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the third. After Milton retired Ramon Hernandez and Ray Durham, Hatteberg drew a walk. Tejada then stepped to the plate and hit his first homer of the series. Tejada lined the ball to left and it caromed off the top of the fence and into the seats.

The Twins answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third to tie it. Pierzynski led off with a single and advanced to third one out later on a ground-rule double by Jones. Guzman then grounded out, with Pierzynski scoring on the play. Koskie walked, before Ortiz laced a ground-rule double to left to knock in Jones. Hunter grounded out to end the inning.

The Athletics received a leadoff double from Dye in the fourth, but Milton set down Justice, Ellis and Terrence Long in succession to end the inning. Long was retired on a nice play by first baseman Mientkiewicz.