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Tigers-Athletics Preview

Jun 29, 2009 - 1:35 AM By MATT BECKER STATS Senior Writer

Detroit (41-33) at Oakland (31-42), 10:05 p.m. EDT

After a disappointing start to a nine-game road trip, Brandon Inge got the Detroit Tigers back in the win column with one clutch swing.

Inge and the AL Central-leading Tigers look to carry some momentum from a dramatic comeback victory into Monday night when they open a three-game series against the last-place Oakland Athletics.

Detroit (42-33) was riding a seven-game winning streak when it arrived in Houston on Friday, but scored just five runs in losing the first two games there. The Tigers were on the verge of getting swept Sunday until Inge hit a two-run homer off Astros closer Jose Valverde with two outs in the ninth inning to lift Detroit to a 4-3 victory.

"It's a long road trip we're on right now - three cities, ending up in Minnesota, where it's hard for us to beat them in their place," Inge told the Tigers' official Web site. "To start off a road trip with a sweep, it's not how you want to do it. It's big just to get us started back in the right direction."

Before its series with the second-place Twins, Detroit can't afford to overlook the Athletics (31-43), who have lost five straight and are a league-worst 5-13 since June 9.

The Tigers outscored the A's 34-9 in sweeping a three-game series in Detroit from May 15-17, but have had little luck in Oakland lately, losing seven of their last eight games there.

Inge had five RBIs in the sweep of the A's earlier this season, but is 2 for 32 (.063) with a solo homer in his last 10 games at Oakland.

Although the A's have historically given the Tigers problems at home, they haven't been enjoying much success anywhere lately.

In Sunday's 3-1 loss to Colorado, Oakland had 11 hits - 10 singles - and was 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position.

The A's have been held to three runs or less four times during their skid and a lack of power is a major reason for their offensive woes. They've hit three home runs in their last seven games and have an AL-worst 59 homers this season.

"The big difference was the extra-base hits," manager Bob Geren said. "We haven't hit the long ball."

In the series opener, Geren gives the ball to Brett Anderson (3-7, 5.74 ERA), who is set to make his first start in nine days.

The 21-year-old rookie was scheduled to start Friday versus the Rockies, but was pushed back because of general arm fatigue. The left-hander hasn't pitched since allowing three runs and five hits in five innings of Oakland's 6-3 win over San Diego on June 20.

In his only start against the Tigers on May 15, Anderson yielded nine runs - three earned - and six hits in a season-low 3 1-3 innings of a 14-1 loss.

Detroit counters with Rick Porcello (8-4, 3.55), who is trying to regain some of the dominance he displayed earlier this season.

After posting a 1.50 ERA in winning all five May starts, Porcello is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA in five outings this month. The 20-year-old right-hander has given up 34 hits and 11 walks over 27 innings in June and his .378 opponents' on-base percentage this month is the third-worst in the AL.

On Wednesday, Porcello allowed two runs, seven hits and four walks in five innings of a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs, but wasn't a factor in the decision.

Porcello's only start against the A's came last month when he was still pitching efficiently. He gave up one run and three hits in six innings of a 9-1 win on May 16.