OAKLAND, Calif. – Brant Hurter pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Saturday.
Detroit moved back over .500 after losing three of its previous four games. The Tigers (72-71) haven’t had a winning season since they went 86-75 in 2016.
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Looking to rally in the race for the third AL wild card, Detroit bounced back nicely after losing 7-6 to Oakland in 13 innings on Friday night.
“Our vibe, our energy is excellent — after wins, after losses, after walk-offs, after tough games, maybe even games we don’t play well,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “If you get in that mode of resetting over 162 (games), it’s going to pay off, and games like last night are key when we already know we’re going to show up in the ballpark ready to play the next day.”
Hurter (4-1) entered after Brenan Hanifee got the first two outs as an opener. Hurter allowed four hits, struck out three and walked one.
The 26-year-old left-hander, who has made one start in his first seven major league appearances this year, is settling into a bulk relief role.
“Just going out there and having multiple innings has gotten me more comfortable, and then when I start, it really doesn’t affect me,” Hurter said.
Oakland (62-81) lost for the third time in four games. The A’s wasted a sharp performance by Brady Basso, who struck out six while pitching six innings of three-hit ball.
After Basso departed, the Tigers loaded the bases with none out in the seventh — helped by an error on second baseman Zack Gelof. Dillon Dingler drove in Colt Keith with a fielder’s choice grounder against T.J. McFarland (2-2), and Parker Meadows made it 2-1 with a sacrifice fly.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said that they had been set up to go to their high-leverage relievers in the bullpen with a late lead.
“Had we played better defense in the seventh, I think we win this game 1-0,” Kotsay said.
Ricky Vanasco worked the seventh for Detroit, and Sean Guenther pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings. Jason Foley got two outs for his 21st save.
Oakland jumped in front in the fifth. Gelof singled, stole second and advanced to third on Nick Allen’s flyout to center. Kyle McCann followed with an RBI single.
Basso threw 85 pitches, 56 for strikes, in his first major league start. The 26-year-old left-hander had made three prior relief appearances for the A’s this season.
“I thought the kid did a great job,” Kotsay said. “It was impressive. ... Just an incredible job by a young man, really poised on the mound, really impressive day.”
Basso said getting to start a major league game was a “dream come true,” and he felt like he gave the team a chance to win.
“As a little kid, all you want to do is pitch in the big leagues and I was able to do that,” Basso said. “It was awesome. It was really fun.”
The A’s, who will play their games in Sacramento next season ahead of a planned move to Las Vegas in 2028, drew 14,694 fans. They are playing in their final series of their penultimate homestand.
Oakland’s Lawrence Butler doubled in the third to extend his career-best hit streak to 17 games.
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RHP J.T. Ginn (0-0, 4.30 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale for the A’s. The Tigers have not yet announced a starter.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB