DETROIT, MI - JULY 6: Starting pitcher Hogan Harris #63 of the Oakland Athletics is removed from the game against the Detroit Tigers by manager Mark Kotsay #7 during the fifth inning at Comerica Park on July 6, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
By DAVE HOGG Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) — The Athletics were held to just four hits Thursday in a 9-0 loss to the Tigers that prevented Oakland from claiming a rare road sweep.
Rookie starter Hogan Harris (2-3) allowed a career-high seven runs, eight hits and four walks in 4 2/3 innings.
“He pounded the strike zone and they hit him,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “They had a really good approach and he just couldn’t get the strikeouts or the ground balls that he needed.”
The Tigers got things started in the first with a two-run single by Javier Báez and never looked back, scoring in every inning from the third through the seventh.
The A’s entered Thursday having won four of five, outscoring the Tigers 13-3 in the first two games of the series. The A’s are 31-6 (.838) against Detriot since the start of the 2017 season, including 19-3 at Comerica Park. At 25-64 overall this year, Oakland is on pace to finish 46-116, the most losses since the 2003 Tigers went 43-119.
Detroit All-Star Michael Lorenzen (3-6) allowed three hits in five innings, struck out four and walked none, throwing only 60 pitches.
Aledmys Díaz singled to lead off the third inning with the A’s trailing 2-0, but Manny Piña hit into a double play to end the inning. Rooker singled in the next frame but was stranded on first. Jordan Diaz led off the fifth with an infield single but was erased four pitches later when Jace Peterson grounded into a 6-3 double play.
“We felt pretty good with a 7-0 lead, and we wanted to send Michael off to Seattle on a good note,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “We had a rested bullpen for what seems like the first time all year, and their lineup worked well for us to get him out of the game.”
Detroit relievers Tyler Holton, Brendan White and Chasen Shreve followed to close out the game, allowing only another infield single to Jordan Diaz in the eighth. Diaz reached third base on an error and a ground ball before Tyler Wade grounded out to end the inning still down nine runs.
Jake Marisnick homered off A’s reliever Rico Garcia and drove in two runs for the Tigers, who pitched their fifth shutout of the season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Oakland OF Esteury Ruiz didn’t play after jamming a shoulder in the sixth inning of Wednesday’s 12-3 win and was scheduled for an MRI. … 1B Ryan Noda was out of the lineup with an illness but was available to pinch hit if the game had been closer. … CF Ramón Laureano (fractured hand) is out of his splint and has begun swinging a bat.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Luis Medina (2-7, 6.37) pitches Friday’s opener at Boston.
Tigers: Alex Faedo (1-3, 5.54) is to have his first outing since May 31. RHP Alek Manoah (1-7, 6.36) starts for the Blue Jays, the 2022 All-Star’s first appearance since he was sent to the Blue Jays’ Florida Complex League on June 6 after he couldn’t get out of the first inning against the Houston Astros the previous day.
Originally published at Associated Press