Tigers rough up Athletics, 9-0: Game thread recap
Detroit Tigers (37-48) vs. Oakland Athletics (25-63)
When: 1:10 p.m. Thursday.
Where: Comerica Park in Detroit.
TV: Bally Sports Detroit.
Radio: WXYT-FM (97.1 in Detroit; Tigers radio affiliates).
Probable pitchers: Tigers RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-6, 4.28 ERA) vs. Athletics LHP Hogan Harris (2-2, 5.17 ERA).
Tigers lineup:
1. Matt Vierling (LF)
2. Spencer Torkelson (1B)
3. Andy Ibáñez (RF)
4. Kerry Carpenter (DH)
5. Javier Báez (SS)
6. Jonathan Schoop (3B)
7. Eric Haase (C)
8. Zack Short (2B)
9. Jake Marisnick (CF)
THIS IS BAD: If Tigers sell at trade deadline, they can only blame themselves
WHAT'S THE PLAN: Eduardo Rodriguez's return to Tigers feels like a train to nowhere
Game notes: The Tigers wrap up their series against the A’s with their newest All-Star, Michael Lorenzen, on the mound. Lorenzen has had an up-and-down season, featuring a six-start stretch (from May 3-June 3) in which he allowed just eight earned runs, with 26 strikeouts and seven walks, over 39⅓ innings, for a 1.83 ERA. That was followed by a five-start stretch to close out June in which he allowed 20 earned runs over 28⅔ innings, for a 6.28 ERA.
The peripherals were similar over that stretch — 21 strikeouts, eight walks — so he may have just been a little unlucky. Then again, the A’s have a way of making opposing pitchers feel lucky, regardless of their 12-run outburst; they entered Wednesday averaging 3.54 runs a game while hitting .219/.299/.349, which rank 30th, 29th and 30th, respectively, out of 30 teams.
That Wednesday loss — and, well, Tuesday’s 1-0 extra-inning torture session — was just the continuation of an odd run for the A’s vs. the Tigers. Since 2017, no non-AL Central team has fared better against the Detroit, as Oakland has racked up wins in 31 of 36 games. That’s nearly as many wins, in six seasons, against the Tigers as the Yankees (18) and the Orioles (17) have combined.
The A’s are slated to send rookie Hogan Harris to the mound on Thursday for his ninth career appearance and his fourth start; he’s coming off a start against the Yankees last Thursday in which he allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits and two walks while striking out two over 5⅓ innings. Harris, a 2018 third-round pick by the A’s out of Louisiana-Lafayette, is no stranger to the Mitten State; he posted a 1.38 ERA in 13 innings over seven appearances last season for High-A Lansing in the Midwest League.
After today’s series finale, the Tigers remain at Comerica to finish the first half of the season with a three-game visit from the Toronto Blue Jays, who are planning to start 2022 All-Star Alek Manoah in a return from the minor leagues. The A’s, meanwhile, continue east to end the first half against the Red Sox in Boston.
INJURY UPDATES: Riley Greene could join Alex Faedo, Akil Baddoo with Tigers before All-Star break
Live updates
Can't see the chatter? Refresh the page or check it out on Twitter.
Contact Ryan Ford at rford@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @theford. Read more on the Detroit Tigers and sign up for our Tigers newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Tigers rough up Athletics, 9-0: Game thread recap
