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Gallagher sharp in return as Athletics down Tigers

Sep 10, 2008 - 9:16 PM DETROIT (Ticker) -- Sean Gallagher pitched four hitless frames in his first start off the disabled list, helping the Oakland Athletics post a 5-2 triumph over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.

Ryan Sweeney and Jack Cust hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning for the Athletics, who finished their eight-game road trip with a 4-4 record.

Acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the trade for Rich Harden, Gallagher was placed on the 15-day DL on August 21 with shoulder fatigue. The righthander did not allow a hit over his 88-pitch outing in this one.

"I felt good out there. My arm didn't bother me at all," Gallagher said. "It was a little different with all the walks and strikeouts and no hits. I missed the plate on a few of my pitches but I battled back and was able to make quality pitches and make outs."

Gallagher walked six and struck out six before being relieved to start the fifth. He walked the bases loaded in the fourth, but managed to get Brandon Inge to fly out to left field to end the threat.

"(Gallagher) pitched pretty well," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "He had to battle with his command as you could see in the strange walk, strikeout ratio. He was able to make his pitches when he needed too."

Houston Street (7-0) received the win after pitching a scoreless seventh and Brad Zeigler pitched around a single in the ninth for his eighth save of the season as Oakland used six relievers.

Sweeney opened the scoring with his fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to right field off Tigers rookie starter Armando Galarraga. Cust followed with his 28th blast this season.

"The multi-run first was big for us," Geren said. "The homers by Sweeney and Cust in the big ballpark was huge for us. We were the able to get the key hits when we needed them and the pen kept them down."

"It's always good to jump ahead early in the game," Sweeney added. "When it's by home runs, it really gets you pumped up."

Oakland added three runs in the fourth as Eric Patterson had an RBI single and Aaron Cunningham delivered a two-run base hit.

Galarraga (12-6) surrendered five runs and eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts over four innings.

"(Galarraga) looks like he's starting to burn out a little bit," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "We'll see how that plays out - he'll get an extra day before his next start - but he might be running on empty at this point."

Ryan Raburn hit a two-run single for Detroit, which embarks on a nine-game road trip after a day off Thursday.