Tigers 3 - 1 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Oakland wraps up series with Detroit

May 13, 2012 - 3:29 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Oakland Athletics up-and-down series with the Detroit Tigers will end today as the two clubs take the field for the fourth time in as many days.

Oakland is currently in second place in the AL West and will be looking to improve its record to 8-3 in the month of May.

The biggest story line of this series has been Brandon Inge's outburst against Detroit, the team he had spent his entire 11-plus career with before being released this season. Inge homered and drove in four runs in each of the first two games of the series, but went hitless with a walk in four at-bats on Saturday.

Inge was not the only one to be slowed down Saturday. Detroit and Oakland had combined for 31 total runs in the first two games before the Athletics picked up a 3-1 victory in the third portion of the four-game set. Brandon McCarthy (3-3) struck out 10 batters through seven scoreless innings to lead Oakland as it improved to 3-2 before the final chapter of its six-game homestand.

Doug Fister (0-1) did a good job slowing down the A's as he surrendered only one run and five hits while striking out eight in six innings. The Tigers could not provide the run support needed to help Fister to a winning decision.

Justin Verlander (3-1) will take the mound today and attempt to lead the Tigers to a win. The reigning American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner has compiled a 2.63 ERA in 51 1/3 innings while striking out 48 and walking only 11 batters so far this season. Verlander won his third straight game on Tuesday by pitching six innings and allowing three runs versus Seattle.

The Tigers' power hitting duo of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder was ineffective on Saturday. Both sluggers went 0-for-4 at the plate and struck out twice.

"We just try to go out there and see what happens," Fielder said. "It's always easy to say you're pressing when it doesn't happen, but you're just trying to get it done. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Detroit will hope to have better success today against A's starter Jarrod Parker. The 23-year-old righty enters today with a 1.80 ERA and has not yet surrendered more than two runs in a game.

Oakland will be without Yoenis Cespedes after he was sent to the 15-day disabled list because of a strained muscle in his left hand. Jemile Weeks and Kila Ka'aihue are both questionable due to injuries sustained on Saturday. This Oakland team has shown resilience so far.

"We've responded very well," Weeks said. "I think the one thing I believed in from the beginning until now is anybody can be the guy on this team, any given day. It's not like one guy holds this team together. Anyone can do it."






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