Athletics 6, Tigers 3 (6)
Brandon Moss hit a go-ahead two-run homer and scored twice to help visiting Oakland to a win in a rain-shortened affair.
Jed Lowrie had a two-run double, Yoenis Cespedes snapped an 0-for-15 slide with an RBI double and Seth Smith cranked a solo home run for the Athletics, who remained 2 1/2 games behind Texas in the American League West race. Oakland opened a three-game advantage over Cleveland in the push for the second wild-card spot.
Tommy Milone (10-9) allowed three runs (two earned) and three hits in five innings to get the better of struggling Tigers star Justin Verlander (12-10), who gave up five runs (three earned) in five innings to fall to 2-4 with a 4.27 ERA since the All-Star break. Detroit maintained a 5 1/2-game lead in the AL Central due to the Indians' loss in Atlanta.
Verlander walked leadoff hitter Coco Crisp and Josh Donaldson followed with a single before Lowrie's double to right made it 2-0 before an out was recorded. Prince Fielder's two-run single keyed a three-run first for the Tigers but Cespedes tied it in the third and Moss put Oakland ahead to stay with an opposite-field blast in the fifth.
Smith greeted Bruce Rondon in the sixth with a shot to right and the Athletics loaded the bases with no outs before the tarp was brought on. After an 80-minute rain delay, the game was called.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Athletics RHP Bartolo Colon will start Thursday's series finale. Colon is on the disabled list with a groin strain. ... Lowrie's double was his 37th, which establishes a club record for a switch hitter. ... Verlander threw 44 pitches in the first inning.