The Athletics squared off with the Detroit Tigers in the middle game of this three-game series between these two historic American League franchises. The Tigers scored early and never looked back, winning 6-1 to take the series and leave the A’s sitting ten games under .500.
Tigers Strike First
Tigers’ starter Troy Melton needed only eight pitches to retire the side in the first inning. Meanwhile, A’s starter Jeffrey Springs got off to a rocky start. Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler reached second base on an infield single coupled with A’s third baseman Zack Gelof’s throwing error. Springs then walked two straight hitters to load the bases with only one out.
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Left fielder Riley Greene’s RBI single brought home the Tigers first run of the game. Springs retired the next two batters to limit the damage, although he needed 34 pitches to get through that high-stress first inning.
A’s Waste Chance to Respond
In the second inning, A’s right fielder Lawrence Butler hit a two-out double. He advanced to third on second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer’s infield single. Alas, the visitors wasted their first scoring opportunity as Melton struck out Carlos Cortes to end the inning.
Tigers Roar
In the bottom of the second inning, Jeff McNeil took over at first base for Nick Kurtz, who left the game due to illness. That marks two straight days the team has had a player exit the game early, suggesting an illness may be spreading through the A’s clubhouse.
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The Tigers extended their lead that inning. Backup catcher Jake Rogers, pinch-hitting for injured starter Dingler, hit his second home run of the season, a two-out, two-run shot to left-center field.
A’s Catch a Break
The A’s scored their lone run in the fourth inning. With one out, Tyler Soderstrom doubled. He scored on Tigers’ shortstop Zach McKinstry’s throwing error. For the second consecutive time, Kuroda-Grauer’s infield single advanced a base runner 90 feet before Cortes struck out to end an A’s rally. The shine has worn off from Cortes, who now looks like the player that failed to break through with the New York Mets earlier in his career.
Springs: Batting Practice Pitcher!
After throwing two straight scoreless innings to keep the A’s deficit at two, the Tigers got to Springs in the fifth inning. Back-to-back singles set up runners at the corners with one out. Springs promptly served up his second home run of the night. First baseman Spencer Torkelson hit his 15th of the season, a three-run shot to left field, making it a 6-1 ballgame.
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A’s manager Mark Kotsay finally removed Springs, replacing him with right-handed reliever Justin Sterner, who got the final two outs of that inning. Springs struggled again, allowing six runs on six hits plus four walks in 4 1/3 innings.
It seems that no matter where he pitches, he is prone to giving up the long ball. Springs has given up more home runs over his last 15 starts than any pitcher in A’s history. With an ERA north of 6.00, it may be time for the A’s to consider moving Springs to the bullpen.
If they do not view him as a part of their plans moving forward, a trade could be another option. However, it is unclear whether the Athletics have a better internal replacement should they decide to make that switch before his next start, which would come after the All-Star break. As it stands, the A’s are using an MLB high 4.2 pitchers per game, a reflection of how many short outings they have recently received from their starting pitchers.
If the A’s want to contend for a playoff spot, they need more young, hard-throwing pitchers like Melton, not soft-tossing veterans such as Springs and fellow starter Aaron Civale. At this point, it might do the club good to bring in new pitching coaches and see if fresh voices in the pitchers’ ears can help this team’s talented young arms improve.
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Melton’s Dominance Continues
Melton’s outing ended after he walked Soderstrom with one out in the sixth inning. The young right-hander fared much better, allowing just one unearned run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked only one while striking out nine, and his overpowering stuff was on full display all evening.
A’s Late Offensive Rallies Die
Right-hander Keider Montero entered out of the Tigers’ bullpen. He walked A’s shortstop Jacob Wilson before retiring the next two batters on groundouts. The visitors stranded two more runners in scoring position, wasting another scoring opportunity.
In the seventh, the A’s failed to cash in with runners in scoring position for a second straight inning. Meanwhile, A’s relievers Mason Barnett and Jose Suarez kept the score unchanged, combining to pitch the final three innings of the game.
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Kuroda-Grauer was arguably the A’s lone offensive bright spot. He added his third hit in the ninth inning, giving him his third three-hit game in just eight MLB appearances. Unfortunately, the rest of the A’s lineup contributed next to nothing in a game where the visitors once again had to play from behind. The “Green and Gold” finished the night 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine runners on base.
The free-falling Athletics will look to avoid a second consecutive sweep tomorrow afternoon. The pitching matchup features Jack Perkins taking on longtime A’s nemesis Framber Valdez. The former Houston Astros’ standout has not fared as well in his first year with Detroit.
