Final
Coke, Tigers down Athletics
Apr 15, 2011 - 7:38 AMVideo
Coke (1-2) gave up just three hits to go with two strikeouts and two walks for the Tigers, who have won three in a row since a three-game skid. Jose Valverde pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.
Ramon Santiago went 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored for Detroit, which started a seven-game road trip on Thursday. Ryan Raburn also knocked in a run for the victors.
Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez tossed six scoreless frames to lower his earned run average to 0.47. Gonzalez also struck out six and walked six. Tyson Ross (1-1) gave up three runs -- two earned -- on two hits over one-plus innings to take the loss.
Oakland's best chance to score came in the first inning. Daric Barton walked and Conor Jackson singled to put men on first and second with one out. Barton moved to third when Josh Willingham popped out. Coke kept the A's off the board by getting Hideki Matsui to ground out.
Detroit stranded runners on second and third in the fifth and sixth.
The Tigers, though, got on the board in the seventh. Ross took over on the mound for Gonzalez and allowed a leadoff single to Santiago, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Raburn's double off the wall in right.
"We finally got him (Gonzalez) out of there and we were able to get a couple," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said.
Detroit tacked on two insurance runs in the eighth without recording a hit in the frame.
Ross walked Jhonny Peralta and Brennan Boesch. Jerry Blevins came in from the bullpen and issued another free pass to Brandon Inge to load the bases. Santiago then hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Willingham, who threw the ball to third base. But there was nobody covering third, which allowed another run to cross the plate for a 3-0 lead.
Joaquin Benoit tossed a perfect eighth for the Tigers before Valverde's 1-2-3 ninth.
"You've got to give him credit. We didn't do a very good job as hitters tonight, but he got us out," Willingham said of Coke.
Game Notes
Detroit split its six meetings with the A's last season...Oakland started a six-game homestand on Thursday...The A's pitching staff walked 11 batters...Jackson had two of Oakland's three hits.
- 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
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Breaking down the Tigers offensive projections for 2024 Dec 26
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- Tigers sign RHP Shelby Miller to a one-year contract Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Friday Open Thread: Your Tigers Christmas wish Dec 22
- Elephant Rumblings: MLB approves 2024 rule changes Dec 22
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: JJ Bleday Dec 21
- Elephant Rumblings: Replies off, talk to the hand Dec 21