A's 6, Tigers 1
DETROIT -- Sonny Gray tossed eight shutout innings, and hot-hitting Billy Burns smacked a three-run triple as the Oakland A's handed the Detroit Tigers their sixth consecutive loss, 6-1 Wednesday night at Comerica Park.
The A's ace allowed just two hits -- singles by left fielder Yoenis Cespedes and first baseman Miguel Cabrera -- while walking one and striking out seven. All but three of the outs Gray (7-2) recorded came on strikeouts or ground balls. Gray, who won a third consecutive start, held the opponent scoreless for the fourth time this season.
Burns' five-game streak of multi-hit games ended, but the center fielder made his one hit count. His two-out triple in the second gave Gray all the runs he would need.
Right fielder Josh Reddick hit a solo homer, and third baseman Brett Lawrie doubled twice and drove in a run for the A's (22-33), who earned their fifth win in six games. Catcher Stephen Vogt added a sacrifice fly.
Cabrera broke up the shutout bid with an RBI double in the ninth off reliever Fernando Rodriguez.
Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez (3-7) allowed four runs on five hits and four walks in seven innings. He gave up at least four earned runs for the fifth time in his past seven home starts. The Tigers (28-26) fell to 2-9 in their past 11 games.
Sanchez got himself into trouble in the second by walking two batters with a man on and two out. Burns made him pay when he pulled an inside pitch down the right-field line, clearing the bases.
Reddick gave Oakland a 4-0 lead the following inning by pulling his eighth homer just inside the foul line.
The teams wrap up the three-game series Thursday afternoon.
NOTES: A's LHP Drew Pomeranz was activated from the 15-day disabled list, and RHP Arnold Leon was optioned to Triple-A Nashville. Pomeranz, who was placed on the DL retroactive to May 19 with a sprained left AC joint, will work out of the bullpen. He has made eight starts, going 2-3 with a 4.40 ERA. ... Oakland LF Coco Crisp, who was placed on DL retroactive to May 20 with a cervical strain, received an epidural and returned to the Bay Area. "For a period of time, he'll be shut down to get the inflammation out," manager Bob Melvin said. ... Tigers RHP Bruce Rondon made an injury rehab appearance at Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday, giving up a run and striking out three in 1 1/3 innings. Rondon has been on the DL since Opening Day with biceps tendinitis. ... Detroit 1B Miguel Cabrera reached base in his 22nd consecutive game.