OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Joe Boyle had five strikeouts in six innings for his first career win, Esteury Ruiz hit a two-run home run, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Saturday.
A fifth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2020 who was acquired from the Reds at the trade deadline, Boyle (1-0) was mostly crisp in his second start in the majors. The rookie allowed five hits, pitched around traffic in each of the first six innings and gave up an unearned run in the third, the only runner Boyle allowed past second base.
Lucas Erceg retired three batters then Dany Jiménez set down two for Oakland. Trevor May got the final four outs, pitching out of a bases-loaded jams in the eighth and ninth for his 20th save.
The last-place A’s (48-107) have won back-to-back games for the first time since Sept. 11-12 and remain one loss shy of tying the team’s Oakland-era record for most losses in a season – 108 in 1979
Zach McKinstry had two hits for the Tigers. One day after being mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, Detroit pushed only one run across.
Nick Allen got the A’s going with a bloop single to center before Ruiz crushed his fifth home run on an 0-1 change-up from Joey Wentz (3-12) into the left field stands.
Miguel Díaz, working as the Tigers opener for the third time in five days, retired four of the five batters he faced and walked one.
Ryan Noda and Zack Gelof both had RBIs for the A’s in the eighth inning.
BAD GLOVE WORK
The Tigers scored their only run in the first inning after A’s third baseman Jordan Diaz’s fielding error on Spencer Torkelson’s grounder. McKinstry doubled then broke for third and never stopped as Jordan Diaz bobbled the ball hit by Torkelson. Shortstop Nick Allen also committed an error, the eighth by Oakland in the last five games and 97th overall, the most by the A’s since 2017 (121).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Tigers: Miguel Cabrera was given the day off by manager A.J. Hinch. Kerry Carpenter served as Detroit’s DH in place of Cabrera.
Athletics: OF Tony Kemp was held out of the lineup after rolling his right ankle running the bases Friday night. Manager Mark Kotsay previously said he’s hopeful that Kemp will play again this season.
UP NEXT
Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (11-9, 3.57 ERA), who left his previous outing early due to back spasms, will take his regular turn in the rotation Sunday in the series finale. Rodriguez has lost his last two games while allowing nine runs in 8 1/3 innings. Athletics LHP JP Sears (5-12, 4.52) pitched 7 1/3 shutout innings with four strikeouts when he faced Detroit on July 4.
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