Detroit Tigers rally to top Oakland Athletics, 2-1, even series in speedy finish
The Detroit Tigers couldn't complete their comeback in Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics, but in Saturday's clash, they mounted a comeback and never let go.
The momentum flipped in the seventh inning.
The Tigers beat the Athletics, 2-1, in the second of three games at the Oakland Coliseum. The one-run win occurred less than 24 hours after a one-run loss in 13 innings, which lasted nearly four hours. This time, the Tigers and Athletics needed just 2:23 to wrap things up.
With the win, the Tigers (72-71) are five games behind in the race for the third and final American League wild-card spot, but there are only 19 games remaining.
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The Tigers scored both runs in the seventh inning.
The inning began with a leadoff single from Colt Keith, and reached its climax with the bases loaded and no outs. The Tigers grabbed knotted the game at 1-1 when Dillon Dingler grounded into a force out. After that, the Tigers extended their lead to 2-1 with Parker Meadows' sacrifice fly.
Both runs were ruled as unearned because of a missed catch error by the Athletics' second baseman on what could've been a double play groundout — off the bat of Spencer Torkelson — immediately after Keith's single.
The Tigers finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
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The pitching plan
The Tigers had left-hander Brant Hurter scheduled to start Saturday's game.
That plan changed.
Instead of Hurter, right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee started as an opener. He retired two of the first three batters before giving way to Hurter, who completed the first inning.
Hurter took down 5⅓ innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts, throwing 67 pitches. He has a 3.00 ERA across 33 innings in seven games since making his MLB debut, including six appearances as a bulk reliever.
The Athletics scored their one run in the fifth inning on Kyle McCann's RBI single off Hurter's two-strike sweeper. Hurter avoided further damage by retiring Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker, the two best hitters in the Athletics' lineup.
After Hurter, the Tigers turned to right-handed reliever Ricky Vanasco, left-handed reliever Sean Guenther and right-handed reliever Jason Foley. The Athletics threatened in the ninth with a one-out single from ex-Tiger Tyler Nevin, but Foley slammed the door for his 21st save.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers rally in 7th inning to beat Oakland Athletics, 2-1
