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Ellis blast keys Athletics' victory

Aug 2, 2007 - 12:02 AM By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker contributing writer

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Detroit Tigers continue to struggle.

Mark Ellis' solo home run in the sixth inning off starter Nate Robertson was the difference in the Oakland Athletics' 3-2 victory over the Tigers on Wednesday.

The Tigers finished this road trip 3-8 and have lost six of their last seven. After sweeping the Minnesota Twins in a three-game set from July 17-19, Detroit has dropped each of its last four series.

"Right now we're right in the middle of it obviously," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We haven't done well lately and a lot of guys aren't hitting.

"When we've had some narrow leads, we've let those get away and those are all combinations of things that add up to losing the game. You go through stretches, ups and downs, and you just have to grind them out."

Tied 2-2 in the sixth, Ellis deposited a 1-2 pitch from Robertson (6-9) over the left field wall for a 3-2 edge. It was Ellis' 13th home run of the season, matching his career high in 2005.

"They're a really good team," Ellis said. "To take two out of three against them is nice. We have had some injuries on this team, not to make excuses, but it shows that there is talent here and what we're capable of."

Robertson, who was trying to rebound after allowing a season-high eight runs against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday, allowed three runs, nine hits and one walk while striking out two in six innings.

"There weren't too many pitches that I left over the middle of the plate today," Robertson said. "The one to Ellis was one that I left up and he took advantage of it.

"Obviously it wasn't good enough for a 'W' and we need one. We need to get on a roll here ... turn this around. It seems like one little thing leads to bigger things every game for us. We had a chance in this ballgame a couple of times but that's the way it goes right now."

Athletics reliever Andrew Brown (1-0) picked up the win after tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Alan Embree struck out Curtis Granderson with the bases loaded to end a Detroit threat in the eighth and tossed a perfect ninth to earn his 12th save.

Oakland starter Dallas Braden, who is 0-6 since winning his first major league start against Baltimore on April 24, yielded just two runs and four hits in 5 1/3 innings.

"I'm facing guys I grew up watching," Braden said. "(Gary) Sheffield, Magglio Ordonez, one through nine, those guys are pretty potent. To try to minimize the damage and hold them to a low-run count is something I'm pretty happy with."

Detroit opened the scoring in the second inning when Ordonez tagged from first base on Mike Hessman's deep flyout to center field with two outs. Craig Monroe followed with an RBI single to right for a 1-0 edge.

Oakland answered back in the third when Travis Buck doubled to right and Shannon Stewart followed with an RBI double to right-center. Mike Piazza then added a single to left, plating Stewart, for a 2-1 advantage.

Detroit knotted the game in the sixth on an RBI single by Ordonez.