Final
Dirks, Tigers best Athletics
May 11, 2012 - 7:27 AMVideo
Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-5 with three RBI and a run scored while Alex Avila plated two for the Tigers, who had dropped two of three in Seattle coming into this series. Max Scherzer (2-3) went 6 1/3 innings and gave up two runs on five hits with two walks and nine strikeouts.
"It was nice to get some runs on the board," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Brandon Inge hit his second grand slam in the past three days for the Athletics, who have lost their last two. Bartolo Colon (3-3) was torched for eight runs -- seven earned -- on nine hits in just 2 1/3 innings.
The Tigers scored on their second at-bat when Dirks clubbed a solo home run, his third of the year.
Oakland grabbed the lead in the second as Seth Smith walked with one out and Kila Ka'aihue homered to center for his first of the season and a 2-1 lead.
Detroit, though, batted around in the third to take control of the game.
The first two batters reached base on singles and Cabrera chased home one with a double. Prince Fielder then hit a sharp grounder to first that Ka'aihue couldn't field, allowing Dirks to score. A Delmon Young single scored another and Avila followed with a two-run double. RBI doubles from Brennan Boesch and Ramon Santiago were followed later by an RBI single from Cabrera for a 9-2 advantage.
Cabrera singled home another run in the fifth to give Detroit an eight-run lead.
The lead stayed that way until the eighth, when Oakland cut its deficit in half.
With Phil Coke on the mound for Detroit, Josh Reddick reached base with one out on a single and Jonny Gomes followed with a single. After Seth Smith walked to load the bases, Collin Balester took the mound and Inge greeted him with his second grand slam in three days
Inge's grand slam in the ninth inning on Tuesday gave the team a walk-off, 7-3 victory over Toronto, but all he did on Thursday was make the score more respectable as the A's went quietly in the ninth.
"If anyone said they were trying to do it, they'd be lying. No one tries to hit grand slams. It just happens sometimes," Inge commented.
Game Notes
Each team won five times in the series last season...Cabrera has 25 RBI on the season...Colon fell to 8-10 in 25 career games against the Tigers...Scherzer improved to 2-1 in three starts against the Athletics...Rick Porcello pitches for Detroit on Friday while Tom Milone toes the rubber for Oakland.
- DETROIT: 10
OAKLAND: 6
Final
May 11 1:20 AM - Brandon Inge two-out, Grand Slam (4) to right scored Josh Reddick, Jonny Gomes and Seth Smith. Kila Ka`aihue due up.
Tigers 10, Athletics 6 Bot 8, 2 OutsMay 11 12:49 AM - Miguel Cabrera singled to center scored Austin Jackson. On the play, Andy Dirks advances to second. Runners on first and second with two outs and Prince Fielder due up.
Tigers 10, Athletics 2 Top 5, 2 OutsMay 10 11:35 PM - Miguel Cabrera singled to center scored Ramon Santiago. On the play, Andy Dirks advances to third. Runners on first and third with two outs and Prince Fielder due up.
Tigers 9, Athletics 2 Top 3, 2 OutsMay 10 11:03 PM - Ramon Santiago doubled to left scored Brennan Boesch. Runner on second with one out and Austin Jackson due up.
Tigers 8, Athletics 2 Top 3, 1 OutMay 10 10:58 PM - Brennan Boesch doubled to left scored Alex Avila. Runner on second with one out and Ramon Santiago due up.
Tigers 7, Athletics 2 Top 3, 1 OutMay 10 10:56 PM - Alex Avila doubled to center scored Prince Fielder and Delmon Young. Runner on second with none out and Ryan Raburn due up.
Tigers 6, Athletics 2 Top 3, 0 OutsMay 10 10:55 PM - Delmon Young singled to center scored Miguel Cabrera. On the play, Prince Fielder advances to second. Runners on first and second with none out and Alex Avila due up.
Tigers 4, Athletics 2 Top 3, 0 OutsMay 10 10:50 PM - Prince Fielder reached first on Kila Ka`aihue's fielding error scored Andy Dirks. On the play, Miguel Cabrera advances to third. Runners on first and third with none out and Delmon Young due up.
Tigers 3, Athletics 2 Top 3, 0 OutsMay 10 10:47 PM - Miguel Cabrera doubled to right scored Austin Jackson. On the play, Andy Dirks advances to third. Runners on second and third with none out and Prince Fielder due up.
Tigers 2, Athletics 2 Top 3, 0 OutsMay 10 10:46 PM - Kila Ka'aihue two-out, two-run Home Run (1) to center scored Seth Smith. Kurt Suzuki due up.
Tigers 1, Athletics 2 Bot 2, 2 OutsMay 10 10:38 PM - Andy Dirks one-out, solo Home Run (3) to right center. Miguel Cabrera due up.
Tigers 1, Athletics 0 Top 1, 1 OutMay 10 10:10 PM - DETROIT: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 10 10:07 PM
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