Final
Athletics-Tigers Preview
May 16, 2009 - 5:43 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior WriterOakland (13-18) at Detroit (17-16), 7:05 p.m. EDT
A return home from a disappointing road trip might have been enough to wake up the Detroit Tigers' inconsistent lineup.
The Tigers look to build off a big offensive performance Saturday night when they continue a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics.
Ryan Raburn and Brandon Inge each hit grand slams and drove in five runs in Detroit's 14-1 win over Oakland on Friday in a contest that featured two rain delays of over an hour.
It was the third time in franchise history that the Tigers had hit two grand slams in the same game, and the first since Jim Northrup hit a pair on June 24, 1968.
More importantly for the Tigers (18-16), they avoided a fourth straight loss after being swept at Minnesota to conclude a 3-4 road trip.
"We were fortunate to get that game in and get a victory," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland, whose team scored 27 runs on their road trip - including 10 in a four-run loss to the Twins on Wednesday.
Inge homered for the second time in three games to increase his total to 10 on the season. He is 6 for 13 with seven RBIs in his last three contests.
Miguel Cabrera had three hits and scored four runs to raise his average to .378.
Rick Porcello (3-3, 4.28 ERA) looks for a third straight victory when he takes the ball for the Tigers on Saturday.
After losing three of his first four starts, the 20-year-old rookie has allowed one run in 12 innings to win his last two outings. He gave up a run and five hits in five innings of a 5-3 win at Cleveland on Sunday.
"He's special," Leyland told the Tigers' official Web site. "He's very young, and not real experienced, and very good. We're not going to get away from our plan."
The right-hander makes his first appearance against Oakland (13-19), which is expected to start Dallas Braden, who was hit on his pitching hand in his last outing.
Braden (3-4, 2.79) stayed in the game and allowed three runs and nine hits in six innings of a 5-0 loss to Toronto on Sunday.
While X-rays were negative, Braden did suffer a deep bone bruise, but should be ready while pitching on an extra days rest.
"It's all good," Braden told the A's official Web site. "It's my job to pitch. If I'm OK to pitch, why wouldn't I pitch?"
The left-hander hasn't always fared well against the Tigers, going 1-1 with an 8.68 ERA in four starts.
Adam Kennedy had two hits and drove in a run Friday for Oakland, which committed four errors.
"We just didn't play very well," said A's manager Bob Geren, whose team outscored Kansas City 19-5 in sweeping a two-game set with the Royals prior to Friday's contest. "We have to come back (Saturday) and play our game."
Catcher Kurt Suzuki had two hits and is 7 for 15 in his last four games. He is a lifetime .368 (21 for 57) hitter against the Tigers.
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 1
DETROIT 0 1 0 0 5 1 0 2 x 9 14 0 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN, MICHAEL WUERTZ (6TH), RUSS SPRINGER (7TH),
KEVIN CAMERON (8TH) AND KURT SUZUKI
DET - RICK PORCELLO, BOBBY SEAY (7TH), JOEL ZUMAYA
(7TH), FERNA
May 16 9:47 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY MIGUEL CABRERA SCORED PLACIDO POLANCO AND CLETE
THOMAS.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M CABRERA ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
DETROIT 9 BOTTOM, 8TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.258, 1-FOR-4, RBI)
Athletics 1, Tigers 9 Bot 8, 0 OutsMay 16 9:34 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY MIGUEL CABRERA SCORED ADAM EVERETT.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CABRERA ON SECOND, C THOMAS ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
DETROIT 7 BOTTOM, 6TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.260, 1-FOR-3, RBI)
Athletics 1, Tigers 7 Bot 6, 0 OutsMay 16 8:58 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY RYAN RABURN (2) TO RIGHT WITH 2 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF DALLAS BRADEN SCORED MAGGLIO ORDONEZ AND BRANDON
INGE.
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1, DETROIT 6
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: G LAIRD (.213, 2-FOR-2, RBI)
Athletics 1, Tigers 6 Bot 5, 0 OutsMay 16 8:38 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
GROUND RULE DOUBLE BY MAGGLIO ORDONEZ SCORED PLACIDO
POLANCO.
SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, M ORDONEZ ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
DETROIT 3 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: B INGE (.286, 0-FOR-2)
Athletics 1, Tigers 3 Bot 5, 0 OutsMay 16 8:34 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
ERROR BY DALLAS BRADEN ALLOWED CURTIS GRANDERSON TO SCORE.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, P POLANCO ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
DETROIT 2 BOTTOM, 5TH
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: M ORDONEZ (.254, 0-FOR-2)
Athletics 1, Tigers 2 Bot 5, 0 OutsMay 16 8:32 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY TRAVIS BUCK SCORED RYAN SWEENEY.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, T BUCK ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1
DETROIT 1 TOP, 3RD
DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: O CABRERA (.228, 0-FOR-1)
Athletics 1, Tigers 1 Top 3, 0 OutsMay 16 7:44 PM - AL
AT DETROIT - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY GERALD LAIRD SCORED RYAN RABURN.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, G LAIRD ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 0
DETROIT 1 BOTTOM, 2ND
DUE UP FOR DETROIT: A EVERETT (.282, 1 HR, 15 RBI)
Athletics 0, Tigers 1 Bot 2, 0 OutsMay 16 7:35 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