Athletics 7, Tigers 5
Hideki Matsui homered and drove in three runs as the Oakland Athletics halted a six-game road losing streak Wednesday with a 7-5 victory over the Detroit Tigers.
Victor Martinez's two-run double highlighted a three-run sixth that gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead, but they couldn't hold it and lost for the seventh time in their last 11 games at home.
Oakland capitalized on the wildness of David Purcey (1-2), who started the seventh and walked all three batters he faced. Cliff Pennington, Matsui and Conor Jackson hit RBI singles off Joaquin Benoit while Josh Willingham lifted a sacrifice fly as the Athletics grabbed a 7-5 advantage.
The outburst made a winner of Joey Devine (1-1), who gave up a run in one inning. Andrew Bailey tossed a scoreless ninth for his 10th save in 12 opportunities.
Detroit starter Duane Below, who was making his major league debut, retired the first six batters he faced before yielding two runs in the third. The 25-year-old Michigan native, who allowed three runs - one earned - and five hits, exited after Matsui led off the sixth with his seventh homer of the year.
Matsui has eight RBIs in his last three games.