A's top Tigers but lose Hill to mild groin strain
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Pinch hitter Billy Butler blooped a two-out, two-run single to cap a three-run sixth inning Sunday, and the Oakland Athletics rallied to beat the Detroit Tigers for the second straight day, 4-2.
Left-hander Rich Hill (8-3) won his fifth consecutive start despite having to leave in the seventh inning. He sustained a mild groin strain on his third pitch to Jose Iglesias with one on and one out in the seventh.
Right-hander Ryan Dull came on to retire Iglesias on a popup on his first pitch, then struck out Ian Kinsler to protect Oakland's 3-2 lead.
Righty Ryan Madson and left-hander Sean Doolittle took it from there, aided by an insurance run on a Jake Smolinski sacrifice fly in the eighth inning.
Doolittle recorded his third save with a 1-2-3 ninth.
Hill, who took the mound as the American League leader in ERA at 2.18, allowed two runs on five hits in 6 1/3 innings. His ERA rose to 2.25.
In winning for the fifth time in the month of May, Hill walked three and struck out nine.
The A's trailed 2-0 before getting a huge break in the sixth.
With two outs and nobody aboard, Danny Valencia and Khris Davis reached Tigers starter Mike Pelfrey for consecutive singles.
It appeared the hits would go for naught, however, when Yonder Alonso grounded to second baseman Kinsler, who booted the routine attempt, allowing Valencia to score.
Marcus Semien then walked to load the bases, prompting Tigers manager Brad Ausmus to summon left-hander Justin Wilson from the bullpen.
That produced Butler as a pinch hitter, and his flare to center field barely eluded an onrushing Cameron Maybin, delivering Davis and Alonso with the tying and go-ahead runs.
All three runs were unearned.
Pelfrey (0-5) took the loss despite not having allowed an earned run in his 5 2/3 innings. He allowed six hits and two walks, and he struck out three.
James McCann and Victor Martinez drove in the Tigers' runs with singles in the second and third innings, respectively, to give the visitors their 2-0 lead.
Martinez finished with three of the Tigers' five hits.
Valencia had three hits and scored two runs for Oakland, which won two of three from the Tigers in the series.
Davis had two hits, including the game's only extra-base hit, an eighth-inning double.
Stephen Vogt also had two hits for the A's, who out-hit the Tigers 9-5.
NOTES: Tigers RHP Jordan Zimmermann (strained groin) threw a bullpen session before the game, but manager Brad Ausmus elected against putting him into the rotation for the upcoming series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Zimmermann has been scheduled for another bullpen session Tuesday in Anaheim. ... The Tigers will start RHP Justin Verlander, RHP Anibal Sanchez and RHP Michael Fulmer against the Angels. ... Tigers RHP Shane Greene (blister on right middle finger) also threw a bullpen session before the game and is a candidate to come off the disabled list during the Angels series. It is likely Greene will return to the active roster as a reliever. ... Athletics manager Bob Melvin announced that LHP Eric Surkamp would be recalled from Triple-A Nashville to start Tuesday against Minnesota. The A's demoted RHP Zach Neal, who started Thursday against Seattle, to the bullpen.