The Oakland Athletics hosted the Detroit Tigers on Thursday night in the first game of a three-game series. The A's had their most consistent start on the mound in Bartolo Colon, but things did not go to plan and the Tiger -- who had just dropped two of three against the Seattle Mariners -- whomped up on the A's by a final score of 10-6.
The Tigers scored a run in the top of the first inning on a home run by Andy Dirks. The A's plated two runs in the bottom of the second, however, when Kila Ka'aihue launched a home run of his own to give Oakland a 2-1 lead.
The lead was short-lived, as the Tigers put up a massive eight-run inning in the top of the third. Austin Jackson and Dirks led off the inning with doubles and a Miguel Cabrera double tied the game. Prince Fielder then reached base on a fielding error by Ka'aihue, allowing the go-ahead run to score. An RBI single by Delmon Young made the score 4-1 and the runners advanced to second and third base on a Josh Reddick fielding error. Alex Avila doubled home both runners before Colon finally recorded the first out of the inning, getting Ryan Raburn to fly out. Brennan Boesch then doubled home Avila and that finally did it for Colon, as the A's brought in Jordan Norberto. Norberto gave up two more runs before the inning finally came to an end. In all, Colon was charged with eight runs, seven earned.
Miguel Cabrera drove in another run in the top of the fifth, to bring the score to 10-2. The A's threatened in the bottom of the eighth, loading the bases with two outs. Brandon Inge, the Detroit cast-off, launched his second grand slam in three games, closing the gap to 10-6.
Unfortunately, the A's would get no closer. Jose Valverde shut Oakland down in order in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win.
Detroit starter Max Scherzer limited the A's to two runs on just five hits and two walks, striking out nine in 6.1 innings.
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