Andy Dirks led off with a single and Alex Avila added a one-out single the Tigers couldn’t scratch a run in the second, maintaining their 3-1 advantage over the A’s going into the eighth inning. Omar Infante got the runner to third on a fielder’s choice but Austin Jackson struck out to end the threat. … Continue Reading →
Verlander electrified the Comerica Park crowd after striking out the side in the sixth inning and the first two batters of the seventh. The streak ended with a walk to Cliff Pennington, but on the next pitch, Verlander retired Coco Crisp — who scored the A’s only run on his leadoff homer — to end … Continue Reading →
Tigers starter Justin Verlander has found a rhythm, as he struck out the side in the sixth inning and helped the Tigers maintain their 3-1 lead over the A’s. Verlander got Brandon Moss swinging for the third time in the game and struck out Josh Reddick and Josh Donaldson looking to give him his first … Continue Reading →
Tigers catcher Alex Avila blasted Jarrod Parker’s first pitch of the Tigers’ fifth inning into the left-field bullpen, pushing the Tigers’ lead to 3-1. It’s Avila’s second career postseason home run and should provide some cushion and confidence for Verlander, who has labored but only give up one run to the A’s. A’s right fielder … Continue Reading →
Through his pitching troubles, Justin Verlander seems to be cruising along, getting the A’s without surrendering a run in the fifth. His pitch count is at 91 and Verlander has allowed a base runner in each inning, but hasn’t allowed one past second since Coco Crisp’s leadoff home run. The A’s have just three hits … Continue Reading →
The Oakland A’s have been patient so far — and their patience could pay dividends in the next couple of innings. They’ve forced Tigers starter Justin Verlander to labor through the first four innings, with 78 pitches, but the Tigers lead, 2-1. Verlander gave up a leadoff walk in the fourth, but got the next … Continue Reading →
Oakland pitcher Jarrod Parker looked to be out of the inning after Quintin Berry hit a grounder toward first base. But Parker mishandled the ball and it squirted from his glove, allowing Berry to be safe at first and scoring Omar Infante, who doubled. The Tigers lead, 2-1, and threatened with two on and Prince … Continue Reading →
In the third inning, Justin Verlander still hasn’t had a quick inning — 18 pitches in the third — but got another big strikeout of Brandon Moss to end the inning. Verlander has allowed a runner on in each inning (walks in the first two innings and a double by Stephen Drew in the third), … Continue Reading →
After throwing 26 pitches in the first inning, including a leadoff home run, Justin Verlander needed 17 pitches to make it through the second and gave up a walk to the A’s Seth Smith. He ended the inning by striking out Cliff Pennington, his third of the game. The A’s strategy seems to be to … Continue Reading →
With runners on first and third and no outs, Triple Crown champion Miguel Cabrera arrived to the plate to chants of “MVP! MVP!” from the Comerica Park crowd. Cabrera, though, grounded into a 6-4-3 double play — but Austin Jackson scored from first, tying the game at 1 after the first inning. Fans were waving … Continue Reading →