Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez watches his three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Wednesday, April 27, 2016, in Detroit.
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Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus tweaked his lineup, elevating Martinez to the No. 2 spot for the first time in his career and dropping LF Justin Upton to No. 5. Another run scored in the fourth on a J.D. sac fly, and then in the sixth inning Victor Martinez destroyed a first-pitch fastball for a three-run homer.
Mike Pelfrey (0-4) allowed five runs and nine hits in 6 2/3 innings and remains winless since signing with Detroit this past offseason. Ace Sonny Gray was a non factor with four runs allowed on four hits and four free passé over two frames while Liam Hendricks was charged with another three runs in two innings. Chris Sale fanned six over eight innings of one-run, four-hit ball to move to 5-and-0. Ian Kinsler scored two runs and Nick Castellanos scored once. With his pitch count already mounting, Gray allowed J.D. Martinez’s homer to right-center field, which made it 4-0.
Josh Reddick had three hits for Oakland, his fourth straight multi-hit game. He struck out six and walked two.
Justin Verlander got not one, but two three-run home runs for offensive support. The A’s have dropped four of their last five games and struggled this turn through the rotation with a total of 31 runs allowed in those four setbacks.
“Yes, I would probably say so”, he responded when asked if regular duty at Toledo was the big reason the Tigers, and perhaps he, saw merit to Wednesday’s move. Martinez picked up his fourth RBI of the game on a sacrifice line drive to left field in the fourth inning.
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While Verlander has owned most Oakland hitters of recent memory, Billy Butler is likely to earn a Wednesday start based on his gaudy numbers against the right-hander, largely while with Kansas City from 2007-14. The A’s also selected the contract of OF Matt McBride from Triple-A Nashville and optioned RHP Andrew Triggs to Nashville. Anyway, through five innings he had five strikeouts and just two walks. The Athletics will call up LHP prospect Sean Manaea to make his major-league debut on Friday against Houston.2. Shane Greene, who has a blister on his pitching hand, is headed to the 15-day disabled list….
