Final
Gonzalez takes ball for A's in opener with Detroit
Apr 14, 2011 - 2:40 PMVideo
Gonzalez has been tremendous for the A's in the early going, winning both of his starts, while pitching to a 0.69 earned run average. After becoming the first Oakland pitcher in 21 years to have at least eight scoreless starts, Gonzalez logged his first of this season on Saturday in Minnesota, as the Twins managed just four hits in six scoreless innings.
"It was mostly the bullpen that did the great job," Gonzalez said. "It came down for me taking one step at a time. It was just a fun game to watch."
Gonzalez could be in trouble this evening, however, as he has lost all three of his starts to the Tigers and has pitched to a 10.22 ERA in doing so.
Oakland may not need Gonzalez to be perfect tonight, though, as the A's appear to be breaking out of their offensive slumber. After managing two runs or less in five of its first eight games, Oakland has crossed the plate at least five times in three of its last four contests.
On Wednesday, Daric Barton capped a three-run 10th inning with a two-run single, helping the Athletics rally past the Chicago White Sox, 7-4, in the rubber match of a three-game series at U.S. Cellular Field. Coco Crisp had an RBI single in the 10th for the A's, who scored three times in the ninth to tie the game.
Brett Anderson went 5 2/3 innings in the start for the Athletics, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on nine hits. Grant Balfour (1-1) pitched a perfect ninth to pick up the win for Oakland, which went 5-4 on a nine-game road trip.
The Tigers, meanwhile, open a seven-game West Coast road trip tonight after taking two of three from the Texas Rangers at Comerica Park. Detroit won Wednesday's rubber match, as Brandon Inge hit a solo home run with one out in the ninth inning, lifting the Tigers to a 3-2 win.
After Texas stranded the potential go-ahead run at third in the top of the ninth, Inge hammered the first pitch he saw from Darren Oliver over the wall in left-center for his first home run of the season.
Inge added a sacrifice fly for Detroit, which notched its second straight walk-off win on the heels of a three-game slide.
Tigers starter Max Scherzer gave up two runs on seven hits, walked two and struck out seven over six innings. Jose Valverde (2-0) pitched the ninth and picked up the win.
"I gave my team a chance to win, and obviously Inge came through late and won it for us," Scherzer said.
Getting the call for the Tigers tonight will be lefty Phil Coke, who lost his first start of the year on Saturday to Kansas City. Coke gave up two runs and three hits in 6 2/3 innings of that one, but still fell to 0-2 on the year to go along with a 4.00 ERA.
This will be Coke's first-ever start against the A's, but he has pitched to a 6.00 ERA in 10 relief appearances against them.
Detroit split its six meetings with the A's last season.
- DETROIT: 3
OAKLAND: 0
Final
Apr 15 12:56 AM - Ramon Santiago sacrifice fly out to left scored Jhonny Peralta. On the play, Brennan Boesch scores on Josh Willingham's throwing error. Runner on third with one out and Austin Jackson due up.
Tigers 3, Athletics 0 Top 8, 1 OutApr 15 12:25 AM - Ryan Raburn doubled to right scored Ramon Santiago. Runner on second with two outs and Miguel Cabrera due up.
Tigers 1, Athletics 0 Top 7, 2 OutsApr 14 11:56 PM - DETROIT: 0
OAKLAND: 0
Top 1, 1 Out
Apr 14 10:09 PM
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