The Oakland Athletics took the third game of this four game series with the Detroit Tigers, winning 6-2 behind six extra base hits and a solid relief effort behind an injured Dallas Braden. Through five innings Braden had struggled, twice putting men on second and third with nobody out. He gave up one run the first time, but escaped the jam without any damage the second time in the fourth. After the fifth inning, Braden left with stiffness in his shoulder and let the bullpen close out the final four innings.
The A’s offense looked like it was was prepared to continue its struggles through the first three innings, but then managed to blow things up in the fourth inning. The first four Athletics hitters reached base courtesy of three straight doubles and a single with an error. The A’s added a fourth run in the sixth and two more in the eighth to take a 6-1 lead into the ninth.
Grant Balfour was given a chance at a two inning save but gave up a single and a walk, forcing manager Bob Geren to go to his temporary closer Brian Fuentes. Although Fuentes was a little rocky, he got out of the jam giving up only one run as the A’s won 6-2.
The A’s look to salvage a split of the series Sunday sending out Trevor Cahill to face Brad Penny. First pitch is at 1:05pm on CSN California.