GDT133: 8/28/13 - DET (77-55) VS OAK (74-57) - 7:08 p.m. ET

Tigers: RHP Doug Fister (11-6, 3.54 ERA)

Fister battled in his last start against the Mets but still pitched well. He allowed only one run on eight hits, finishing with four strikeouts. He's given up two runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts.



Athletics: RHP Dan Straily (6-7, 4.56 ERA)

Straily escaped with a no-decision after yielding six runs on four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings on Friday against the Orioles. He has just one quality start in his past six outings, his ERA rising from 4.14 to 4.56 in that span.





A's look to keep rolling vs. Tigers in Detroit
Straily heads to the hill for Oakland; Fister starts for the Tigers

By Jeff Kirshman / MLB.com | 8/28/2013 1:55 AM ET

Nevermind that the game lasted just six innings due to rain. The A's beat the Tigers in Tuesday's second game of a four-game set in a potential future postseason matchup, and they did so behind a competent showing at the plate.

More so than defeating Justin Verlander -- who was devastatingly effective against Oakland in last fall's American League Division Series -- for the first time since April 16, 2011, Oakland hit, and did so in support of a subpar outing from its starting pitcher.

The A's bats have seemingly returned to form as they turn the corner into the last month of the season. They're hitting .261 and averaging 4.73 runs per game over their last 19 after hitting .209 and averaging 3.13 over the previous 23 contests. Oakland holds a Wild Card spot and is 2 1/2 games back in the AL West.

Looking to stifle the A's and help build on Detroit's lead in the AL Central is Doug Fister, who battled in his last start against the Mets but still pitched well. He allowed only one run on eight hits, finishing with four strikeouts, and he's given up two runs or fewer in six of his last eight starts.

"For me, it's constantly a 0-0 ballgame in my head, but it's definitely a team lifter and definitely a confidence booster for the team," said Fister, who was provided with a cushion in Detroit's 6-1 win before he took the mound. "Everybody is able to play loose and play together."

Opposite Fister is Dan Straily, who escaped with a no-decision after yielding six runs on four hits and four walks in 3 1/3 innings on Friday against the Orioles. He has just one quality start in his past six outings -- his ERA rising from 4.14 to 4.56 in that span -- and he is is 0-5 with a 5.20 ERA in seven starts since being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on July 20.

A's: Barton returns with a more positive outlook
Daric Barton is doing his best to make the most of his recent callup with the A's. The 28-year-old is three years removed from when he last saw consistent playing time.

He went 0-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday's rain-shortened win against the Tigers and 2-for-5 with two RBIs in Monday's series opener. Barton was brought back up after Josh Reddick was placed on the disabled list.

This is his second stint with the A's this season after hitting .297 in 110 games for Triple-A Sacramento, and his mindset is positive.

"You know what? Besides being healthy, that's been the biggest thing," said Barton, recalled Monday. "It was the only thing. It was the only thing I focused on all year, really the mental aspect of not just my play on the field but off it as well, having a consistent approach not just to baseball but to life, trying to stay positive and to do what I can that day. I learned to turn the page real quick on bad days."

Tigers: Avila comes off DL after concussion recovery
Alex Avila has returned after more than two weeks on the disabled list, and he believes he's back from the concussion symptoms that left him sidelined for much of August. The Tigers activated the catcher from the 15-day DL on Tuesday, returning him to big league action for the first time since Aug. 10. He went 0-for-2 in the Tigers' loss.

He returns with more protective equipment to hopefully prevent a recurrence of the injury. Avila also returns with a keen awareness of how serious his situation was.

"It's been on my mind a lot," he said. "When I saw pictures of my daughter when I'm on the road, or when I was in Toledo and I had to come out of the first [rehab] game, I'm not going to lie, it was on my mind. But at the same time, I know that there's people that care about me as far as making sure that I am healthy.

"That's one of the reasons why I think we took our time with it to make sure that I was healthy before I came back. That's definitely something I thought about."

Avila joined Triple-A Toledo on a rehab assignment last week and caught three innings last Thursday before reporting more headaches. After returning to the Mud Hens' lineup for a game as designated hitter last Saturday, he spent the past two days catching seven innings apiece without any trouble.

Worth noting
• The A's have yet to make a decision on when they'll activate Brett Anderson (right foot) off the disabled list, though manager Bob Melvin maintains that time could still come during his club's four-game series in Detroit that concludes Thursday.

• The Tigers have thrown out only 19 percent of potential basestealers, the lowest mark in the AL. In fact, opposing teams have successfully stolen 17 straight bases against Detroit, with only one runner picked off in that span.

• Alberto Callaspo has an 11-game hitting streak against Detroit dating back to last year and is 13 for 37 (.351) over that span.


Jeff Kirshman is an associate reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.




INJURY UPDATE:


• RHP Octavio Dotel (Right elbow inflammation, transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list on June 8, 2013.) rehab assignment





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• THU, Aug 29:
TIGERS: (RHP Max Scherzer (19-1, 2.73 ERA)) VS
Athletics: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D, MLBN / FM 97.1)


• FRI, Aug 30:
TIGERS: (RHP Rick Porcello (10-7, 4.49 ERA)) VS
Indians: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SAT, Aug 31,:
TIGERS: (RHP Anibal Sanchez (11-7, 2.61 ERA)) VS
Indians: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
7:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)


• SUN, Sep 1,:
TIGERS: (RHP Justin Verlander (12-10, 3.73 ERA)) VS
Indians: (?HP TBA (TBA ERA))
1:08  p.m. ET (FS-D / FM 97.1)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

   Austin Jackson, CF
   Torii Hunter, RF (4-for-7, 2 HR, 3 K’s off Dan Straily)
   Miguel Cabrera, 3B
   Prince Fielder, 1B
   Victor Martinez, DH
   Andy Dirks, LF
   Omar Infante, 2B
   Alex Avila, C
   Jose Iglesias, SS

P: Doug Fister

ATHLETICS (career numbers against Doug Fister)

   Coco Crisp, CF (7-for-16, 2 K’s)
   Josh Donaldson, 3B (1-for-2, walk)
   Jed Lowrie, SS (3-for-9, K)
   Brandon Moss, RF (1-for-2, K)
   Yoenis Cespedes, LF (1-for-3)
   Daric Barton, 1B (6-for-23, 2 walks, 4 K’s)
   Alberto Callaspo, DH (4-for-14, HR, walk, K)
   Eric Sogard, 2B (0-for-5, 2 K’s)
   Kurt Suzuki, C (6-for-23, 2 K’s)

P: Dan Straily

OAK - Top 1st
B:3 S:2 O:1
Coco Crisp flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:0 O:1
Josh Donaldson doubles (27) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:1 S:1 O:2
Jed Lowrie pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.


B:0 S:3 O:3
Brandon Moss strikes out swinging.



DET - Bot 1st
B:1 S:1 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, second baseman Eric Sogard to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:3 S:2 O:1
Torii Hunter singles on a ground ball to center fielder Coco Crisp.


B:3 S:2 O:2
Miguel Cabrera flies out to right fielder Brandon Moss.


B:2 S:2 O:3
Prince Fielder pops out to first baseman Daric Barton.

0-0 AFTER 1 INNING

OAK - Top 2nd
B:3 S:1 O:0
Yoenis Cespedes singles on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Daric Barton singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Yoenis Cespedes to 2nd.

B:1 S:0 O:0
Alberto Callaspo singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Yoenis Cespedes to 3rd. Daric Barton to 2nd.

B:1 S:2 O:0
Eric Sogard singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter. Yoenis Cespedes scores. Daric Barton to 3rd. Alberto Callaspo to 2nd.
OAK 1 - 0

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Kurt Suzuki singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Daric Barton scores. Alberto Callaspo to 3rd. Eric Sogard to 2nd.
OAK 2 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:1
Coco Crisp flies out to right fielder Torii Hunter.


B:1 S:1 O:2
Josh Donaldson out on a sacrifice fly to right fielder Torii Hunter. Alberto Callaspo scores.
OAK 3 - 0

B:3 S:2 O:3
Jed Lowrie flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.



DET - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:0
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Coco Crisp.


B:1 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds into a double play, second baseman Eric Sogard to shortstop Jed Lowrie to first baseman Daric Barton. Victor Martinez out at 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:2
Omar Infante singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jed Lowrie.


B:3 S:1 O:2
Alex Avila singles on a ground ball to center fielder Coco Crisp. Omar Infante to 3rd.


B:0 S:1 O:3
Jose Iglesias grounds out, third baseman Josh Donaldson to first baseman Daric Barton.

OAK 3 - 0 AFTER 2 INNINGS

OAK - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:0
Brandon Moss singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.


B:0 S:1 O:1
Yoenis Cespedes grounds into a force out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to second baseman Omar Infante. Brandon Moss out at 2nd. Yoenis Cespedes to 1st.


B:0 S:0 O:3
Daric Barton grounds into a double play, second baseman Omar Infante to shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder. Yoenis Cespedes out at 2nd.



DET - Bot 3rd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.


B:1 S:1 O:1
Torii Hunter homers (15) on a fly ball to left field.
OAK 3 - 1

B:3 S:2 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Brandon Moss.


B:1 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.


B:2 S:1 O:2
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Coco Crisp. Miguel Cabrera to 2nd.


Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:0 O:3
Andy Dirks flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

OAK 3 - 1 AFTER 3 INNINGS

OAK - Top 4th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Alberto Callaspo pops out to shortstop Jose Iglesias.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Eric Sogard called out on strikes.


B:1 S:1 O:3
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.



DET - Bot 4th
B:4 S:2 O:0
Omar Infante walks.


B:0 S:0 O:2
Alex Avila lines into an unassisted double play, first baseman Daric Barton. Omar Infante doubled off 1st.


B:4 S:2 O:2
Jose Iglesias walks.


With Austin Jackson batting, Jose Iglesias steals (4) 2nd base, . Jose Iglesias advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by catcher Kurt Suzuki.


B:3 S:3 O:3
Austin Jackson strikes out swinging.

OAK 3 - 1 AFTER 4 INNINGS

OAK - Top 5th
B:0 S:1 O:1
Coco Crisp grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.


B:1 S:0 O:1
Josh Donaldson singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jose Iglesias.


B:2 S:0 O:1
Jed Lowrie singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Josh Donaldson to 3rd.


B:0 S:0 O:1
Brandon Moss doubles (14) on a fly ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Josh Donaldson scores. Jed Lowrie to 3rd.
OAK 4 - 1

B:0 S:1 O:1
Yoenis Cespedes singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Jed Lowrie scores. Brandon Moss to 3rd.
OAK 5 - 1

B:0 S:1 O:2
Daric Barton pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Alberto Callaspo singles on a ground ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Brandon Moss scores. Yoenis Cespedes to 2nd.
OAK 6 - 1

B:0 S:0 O:3
Eric Sogard singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Yoenis Cespedes scores. Alberto Callaspo out at 3rd on the throw, center fielder Austin Jackson to third baseman Miguel Cabrera.
OAK 7 - 1

DET - Bot 5th
B:0 S:1 O:0
Torii Hunter hits a ground-rule double (31) on a fly ball to right field.


Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Miguel Cabrera strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:3 O:2
Prince Fielder strikes out swinging.


B:0 S:0 O:3
Victor Martinez flies out to left fielder Yoenis Cespedes.

OAK 7 - 1 AFTER 5 INNINGS

OAK - Top 6th
Pitching Change: Jose Alvarez replaces Doug Fister.


B:1 S:0 O:0
Kurt Suzuki singles on a line drive to right fielder Torii Hunter.


With Coco Crisp batting, passed ball by Alex Avila, Kurt Suzuki to 2nd.


B:1 S:2 O:1
Coco Crisp grounds out, shortstop Jose Iglesias to first baseman Prince Fielder.


On-field Delay.


B:3 S:0 O:2
Josh Donaldson flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson. Kurt Suzuki to 3rd.


B:2 S:1 O:2
Jed Lowrie doubles (38) on a fly ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Kurt Suzuki scores.
OAK 8 - 1

B:3 S:2 O:2
Brandon Moss homers (23) on a fly ball to right center field. Jed Lowrie scores.
OAK 10 - 1

B:3 S:3 O:3
Yoenis Cespedes strikes out swinging.



DET - Bot 6th
B:1 S:1 O:1
Andy Dirks flies out to right fielder Brandon Moss.


B:1 S:0 O:2
Omar Infante pops out to shortstop Jed Lowrie.


B:2 S:2 O:3
Alex Avila flies out to center fielder Coco Crisp.

OAK 10 - 1 AFTER 6 INNINGS

OAK - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces third baseman Miguel Cabrera, batting 3rd, playing third base.


Defensive Substitution: Matt Tuiasosopo replaces first baseman Prince Fielder, batting 4th, playing first base.


B:2 S:2 O:1
Daric Barton grounds out to first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.


B:0 S:1 O:2
Alberto Callaspo flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


B:0 S:1 O:3
Eric Sogard lines out to shortstop Jose Iglesias.



DET - Bot 7th
Pitching Change: Brett Anderson replaces Dan Straily.


B:2 S:2 O:1
Jose Iglesias grounds out, shortstop Jed Lowrie to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:1 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Jed Lowrie to first baseman Daric Barton.


B:0 S:3 O:3
Torii Hunter strikes out swinging.

OAK 10 - 1 AFTER 7 INNINGS

OAK - Top 8th
Defensive Substitution: Ramon Santiago replaces second baseman Omar Infante, batting 7th, playing second base.


B:0 S:1 O:0
Kurt Suzuki doubles (13) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.


Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Chris Young replaces Coco Crisp.


B:1 S:2 O:1
Chris Young pops out to first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.


B:0 S:0 O:1
Josh Donaldson singles on a fly ball to right fielder Torii Hunter. Kurt Suzuki scores.
OAK 11 - 1

Pitching Change: Drew Smyly replaces Jose Alvarez.


Coaching visit to mound.


B:1 S:1 O:1
Jed Lowrie doubles (39) on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks. Josh Donaldson to 3rd.


B:2 S:2 O:1
Brandon Moss homers (24) on a fly ball to right field. Josh Donaldson scores. Jed Lowrie scores.
OAK 14 - 1

Coaching visit to mound.


Pitching Change: Jeremy Bonderman replaces Drew Smyly.


B:0 S:3 O:2
Yoenis Cespedes strikes out swinging.


Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Nate Freiman replaces Daric Barton.


B:2 S:3 O:3
Nate Freiman strikes out swinging.



DET - Bot 8th
Chris Young remains in the game as the center fielder.


Defensive Substitution: Seth Smith replaces left fielder Yoenis Cespedes, batting 5th, playing left field.


Nate Freiman remains in the game as the first baseman.


B:2 S:2 O:1
Don Kelly flies out to center fielder Chris Young.


B:2 S:2 O:1
Matt Tuiasosopo singles on a line drive to right fielder Brandon Moss.


B:0 S:0 O:1
Victor Martinez singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brandon Moss, deflected by first baseman Nate Freiman. Matt Tuiasosopo to 3rd.


B:0 S:1 O:1
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to center fielder Chris Young. Matt Tuiasosopo scores. Victor Martinez to 2nd.
OAK 14 - 2


B:0 S:0 O:2
Ramon Santiago pops out to third baseman Josh Donaldson in foul territory.


B:1 S:2 O:2
Alex Avila doubles (10) on a line drive to center fielder Chris Young. Victor Martinez scores. Andy Dirks scores.
OAK 14 - 4


B:1 S:2 O:3
Jose Iglesias grounds out, shortstop Jed Lowrie to first baseman Nate Freiman.

OAK 14 - 4 AFTER 8 INNINGS

OAK - Top 9th
B:2 S:2 O:0
Alberto Callaspo singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Eric Sogard flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

With Kurt Suzuki batting, wild pitch by Jeremy Bonderman, Alberto Callaspo to 2nd.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, third baseman Don Kelly to first baseman Matt Tuiasosopo.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Chris Young flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.


DET - Bot 9th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, shortstop Jed Lowrie to first baseman Nate Freiman.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Torii Hunter grounds out, pitcher Brett Anderson to first baseman Nate Freiman.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Don Kelly singles on a line drive to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Matt Tuiasosopo grounds out, shortstop Jed Lowrie to first baseman Nate Freiman.


TIGERS LOSE 4-14

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE


W: Straily
L: Fister
S: Anderson, B


Game Info

Smyly pitched to 2 batters in the 8th.

WP: Bonderman.
Pitches-strikes: Straily 103-64, Anderson, B 56-40, Fister 75-50, Alvarez, Jo 44-28, Smyly 8-5, Bonderman 26-19.
Groundouts-flyouts: Straily 3-6, Anderson, B 6-1, Fister 4-4, Alvarez, Jo 2-2, Smyly 0-0, Bonderman 1-2.
Batters faced: Straily 26, Anderson, B 14, Fister 26, Alvarez, Jo 12, Smyly 2, Bonderman 6.
Inherited runners-scored: Smyly 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Gary Darling. 1B: Jerry Meals. 2B: Paul Emmel. 3B: Will Little.
Weather: 82 degrees, clear.
Wind: 10 mph, In from LF.
T: 2:59.
Att: 31,973.
Venue: Comerica Park.
August 28, 2013