Oakland Athletics’ Shea Langeliers hits a three-run residence run in opposition to the Detroit Tigers through the sixth inning of a baseball recreation in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Credit score: AP/Jeff Chiu
Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp, backside, is checked on by supervisor Mark Kotsay, left, third base coach Eric Martins, center, and a coach after reaching second base through the sixth inning of the staff’s baseball recreation in opposition to the Detroit Tigers in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Kemp remained within the recreation. Credit score: AP/Jeff Chiu
Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by third base coach Eric Martins (3) after hitting a house run in opposition to the Detroit Tigers through the sixth inning of a baseball recreation in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Credit score: AP/Jeff Chiu
OAKLAND, Calif. — Pinch-hitter Shea Langeliers launched a three-run homer within the sixth inning and the Oakland Athletics ended their eight-game dropping streak with an 8-2 win over Detroit on Friday night time, spoiling one other milestone for Tigers slugger Miguel Cabrera.
All-Star Brent Rooker hit his twenty ninth residence run for the last-place A’s (47-107), who gained for the primary time since Sept. 12 and averted tying the staff’s Oakland-era file for many losses in a season.
“Nice at-bat by Shea coming off the bench,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay stated. “Shea’s caught extra video games than he has in any prior season. As we speak was a day that I felt like we would have the ability to give him a blow however that at-bat got here, I felt actually assured about Shea going up with that matchup. It labored out.”
Cabrera, the two-time MVP who plans to retire at season’s finish, hit his 624th profession double off starter Ken Waldichuk within the fourth, tying Hank Aaron for the thirteenth most in main league historical past. It was the three,168th hit of Cabrera’s profession, sixteenth all-time.
Nonetheless, the Tigers (72-82) have been eradicated from playoff competition earlier within the night time when Minnesota clinched the AL Central title.
Waldichuk (4-8) tied his season excessive with seven strikeouts and allowed two runs and 4 hits in six innings for his first win as a starter since Could 6. Two of his different wins got here in aid.
Lucas Erceg, Dany Jiménez and Zach Neal every retired three batters to finish the five-hitter.
Oakland Athletics’ Tony Kemp, backside, is checked on by supervisor Mark Kotsay, left, third base coach Eric Martins, center, and a coach after reaching second base through the sixth inning of the staff’s baseball recreation in opposition to the Detroit Tigers in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Kemp remained within the recreation. Credit score: AP/Jeff Chiu
“Ken’s made a lot progress ,” Kotsay stated. “From the place Ken began in April and Could to the place he’s now, that’s what we have been on the lookout for. He’s received another begin left. Constructing that momentum into subsequent yr is at all times a optimistic.”
That the A’s are nonetheless displaying some battle this late in a tough season is an encouraging signal.
“The speak across the locker room proper now’s we all know this season we’re out of it, we’re attempting to construct one thing for subsequent yr,” Waldichuk stated. “Subsequent yr hopefully out of the gates we take what we’ve realized these previous couple of months or so and we attempt to construct some momentum in order that perhaps subsequent yr we’re capable of finding some success early on and journey that.”
The A’s scored a run within the first off Tigers starter Sawyer Gipson-Lengthy however couldn’t handle a lot else offensively till Tigers supervisor A.J. Hinch made a pitching change after 5 innings with Detroit forward 2-1.
Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker (25) is congratulated by third base coach Eric Martins (3) after hitting a house run in opposition to the Detroit Tigers through the sixth inning of a baseball recreation in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Sept. 22, 2023. Credit score: AP/Jeff Chiu
Rooker hit the primary pitch from reliever Will Vest (2-1) over the fence in heart for a tying residence run.
“That’s about as clear as I can hit a ball,” Rooker stated. “I received a fastball within the center, put swing on it, it was on time, and to do it in a giant spot like that to tie the sport and get us going felt higher.”
Tony Kemp reached on a fielding error by shortstop Javier Báez, rolled his proper ankle and slowly trotted to second on Lawrence Butler’s single to proper. After a strikeout, Langeliers hit a 2-0 fastball from Tyler Holton into the left-field stands.
Esteury Ruiz had a two-run single within the seventh to make it 7-2. Butler added a sacrifice fly.
Gipson-Lengthy labored round three walks and allowed one run and 4 hits in 5 innings of his third main league begin. The fitting-hander retired 10 of 11 throughout one stretch, then pitched out of a jam within the fifth when he received Seth Brown to fly out to heart with the bases loaded.
FINALLY A LEAD
Throughout their lengthy dropping streak the A’s had by no means led however broke that stretch shortly on Ryan Noda’s leadoff single within the first adopted by rookie Zack Gelof’s RBI double into the left discipline nook. It was Gelof’s twentieth single in 61 video games since being known as up after the All-Star break.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: LHP Eduardo Rodriguez, who left his earlier begin early on account of again spasms, threw a bullpen session earlier than the sport and take his common flip within the rotation Sunday within the sequence finale.
Athletics: Kemp was faraway from the sport and recognized with a proper ankle sprain. … OF J.J. Bleday (knee) started a rehab project with Triple-A Las Vegas.
UP NEXT
Athletics rookie RHP Joe Boyle (0-0, 0.00 ERA) makes his second profession begin Saturday in opposition to Detroit. The Tigers haven’t named a starter.
