Athletics at Tigers
A week ago, the Detroit Tigers were riding a five-game winning streak and sitting just 2 1/2 games off the American League Central lead, but now they’re gasping for air. The Tigers will try to end their slide and cool off the visiting Oakland Athletics in the second of a four-game series Tuesday.
The Tigers have lost a season-high six straight, and the latest one stung – they squandered a 4-1 lead over the final two innings of a 5-4 loss in the series opener. The defeat dropped Detroit 8 1/2 games behind first-place Cleveland and seven games below .500. Jed Lowrie’s home run off Shane Greene in the ninth inning gave the A’s the lead Monday, as the Tigers lost for the eighth time this season when leading or tied after eight innings. Oakland has won seven of its last nine games to match its high-water mark for the season at three games above .500.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Frankie Montas (4-1, 2.41 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Blaine Hardy (3-1, 3.30)
Montas has pitched better in five big-league starts this season than he did in nine outings at Triple-A Nashville, where he was 1-5 with a 4.39 ERA. The 25-year-old Dominican has posted quality starts in four of his five outings since being recalled May 27, and he gave up just one run over 6 2/3 innings in a win at San Diego on Wednesday. Montas doesn’t miss many bats – he has 21 strikeouts in 33 2/3 innings for Oakland – but he has drawn soft contact and kept the ball in the park.
After making 164 relief appearances without a start over the past four seasons, Hardy has been used a swingman this year and will make his eighth start Tuesday. The 31-year-old has been effective in his new role, going 3-1 with a 3.40 ERA in seven starts. He gave up two hits and a walk while recording just one out in a relief stint Wednesday but allowed just three runs over 11 1/3 frames in his previous two starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. The A’s have homered in an MLB-record 26 consecutive road games.
2. Detroit RF Nicholas Castellanos recorded his team-leading 29th multi-hit game Monday.
3. Oakland RF Stephen Piscotty is 9-for-23 with three homers during a six-game hitting streak.