GDT: 5/10/12 - DET (15-15) AT OAK (16-15) - 10:05 p.m. ET

Inge's old teammates pay him a visit by the Bay

By Adam Odoardi / MLB.com | 5/9/2012 8:58 PM ET

When the Tigers and the Athletics meet on Thursday night for the first time this season, it will be exactly two weeks to the day since A's third baseman Brandon Inge was released by Detroit.

Prior to his release, Inge spent the entirety of his 12-year career donning the old English "D". He had been there since the Tigers drafted him in 1998, and he played in 1,408 games with the club. But following one his worst seasons in 2011 -- he hit .197 -- and off to another slow start in 2012, the Tigers decided to cut ties.

"It's one of those things that you can kind of see how things are going before they come, but there's no hard feelings whatsoever," Inge said after his release. "This is my family. This is where I've been my whole career. I'll miss the guys, I will. But a chance to go play maybe somewhere else, it may be a good thing for me personally. But my heart will always be in Detroit, 100 percent, forever."

The 34-year-old was platooning at second base, a position he hadn't played since high school, and only got 20 at-bats with the Tigers. He quickly signed a contract with the A's to become the team's everyday third baseman.

So far, he has seven hits in 30 at-bats (.233) with his new team. The average isn't great, but the few hits have had an impact. He's hit two home runs, including a walk-off grand slam against the Blue Jays on Tuesday, and driven in nine RBIs.

"I'm so happy here right now," Inge said Tuesday after his walk-off blast.

And that's all anyone in the Tigers' organization wanted, especially All-Star catcher Alex Avila, who has been friends with Inge for years, and took the news of Inge's release hard.

"I've known Brandon for almost 10 years now, and it's tough. It's really tough," Avila said after his release. "I really don't know what else to say about it. It's part of the game that's really hard. It happens to everybody at some point but, you know, it's tough to handle."

Avila didn't play on Tuesday and likely won't play tonight in the series finale against Seattle due to a sore patella tendon in his left knee. However, he's expected to be back for the opener against the A's to catch Max Scherzer.

Scherzer is 1-3 with a 6.32 ERA, but coming off an outing in which he limited the White Sox to four hits and one run in seven innings. He'll be opposed by 38-year-old right-hander Bartolo Colon.

Colon is 3-2 this season with a 2.83 ERA. He's 8-9 with a 5.25 ERA in 24 career appearances and 23 starts against Detroit.

Athletics: Taking the extra base
• The A's have 30 stolen bases this season, which is the most in the American League and second most in the Majors behind Miami. Nine of those steals have been of third base, which is the most in the Majors.

• The A's are 5-2 since Brandon Inge joined the team on April 30.

Tigers: Beating Up on Bartolo
• Ramon Santiago is 11-for-20 (.550) against Colon in his career with three doubles, a triple and three RBIs.

• Alex Avila has two career hits in three at-bats against Colon, and both hits were home runs.

• As a team, the Tigers have hit .228 against the A's over the past two seasons. The team average was .208 (55-for-264) in 2011 and .301 (22-for-73) in 2011.

Worth Noting
• The A's and Tigers split the season series, 5-5, in 2011, and both teams scored the same amount of runs (37).





Tigers: RHP Max Scherzer (1-3, 6.32 ERA)

A White Sox ninth-inning rally cost Scherzer a victory last Friday, but his seven innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts and just 97 pitches were encouraging on merit after a rough stretch of wild pitching. Now he needs to repeat that form.


Athletics: RHP Bartolo Colon (3-2, 2.83 ERA)

Colon struggled through five innings against the Rays his last time out, allowing three earned runs, eight hits, and a pair of walks through just five innings while fanning only two in a no-decision.








INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery, 60-day disabled list on April 4).
• RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 12).






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• FRIDAY, May 11:
Tigers (RHP Rick Porcello (3-2, 4.91 ERA)) AT Athletics (LHP Tommy Milone (4-2, 4.42 ERA)), 10:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• SATURDAY, May 12:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) AT Athletics (?HP TBA (TBA ERA)), 8:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• SUNDAY, May 13:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (3-1, 2.63 ERA)) AT Athletics (RHP Jarrod Parker (1-0, 1.80 ERA)), 4:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• MONDAY, May 14:
Tigers (LHP Drew Smyly (1-0, 1.59 ERA)) AT White Sox (LHP John Danks (2-4, 5.89 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:

TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Andy Dirks, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, DH (3-for-6 off Colon)
Alex Avila, C
Ryan Raburn, 2B
Brennan Boesch, RF
Ramon Santiago, SS (11-for-20, 3 2Bs, 1 3B, 3 RBI off Colon)

P: Max Scherzer


ATHLETICS

Jemile Weeks, 2B
Cliff Pennington, SS
Josh Reddick, CF
Jonny Gomes, DH
Seth Smith, LF
Brandon Inge, 3B
Kila Ka’aihue, 1B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Michael Taylor, RF

P: Bartolo Colon

DET - Top 1st
B:1 S:0 O:1
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Andy Dirks homers (3) on a fly ball to right field.
1 - 0

B:1 S:0 O:1
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Taylor.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Prince Fielder grounds into a force out, second baseman Jemile Weeks to shortstop Cliff Pennington. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd. Prince Fielder to 1st.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Delmon Young grounds into a force out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to second baseman Jemile Weeks. Prince Fielder out at 2nd.


OAK - Bot 1st
B:2 S:2 O:1
Jemile Weeks grounds out, second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Cliff Pennington called out on .

B:0 S:3 O:3
Josh Reddick out swinging.

1 - 0 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:1 S:1 O:0
Alex Avila singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Taylor.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ryan Raburn grounds into a force out, pitcher Bartolo Colon to second baseman Jemile Weeks to shortstop Cliff Pennington. Alex Avila out at 2nd. Ryan Raburn to 1st.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Brennan Boesch flies out to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:2 S:0 O:3
Ramon Santiago grounds out, second baseman Jemile Weeks to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


OAK - Bot 2nd
B:1 S:3 O:1
Jonny Gomes called out on .

B:4 S:1 O:1
Seth Smith walks.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge pops out to third baseman Miguel Cabrera in foul territory.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Kila Ka'aihue homers (1) on a fly ball to center field. Seth Smith scores.
OAK 2 - 1

B:2 S:1 O:3
Kurt Suzuki flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

OAK 2 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson singles on a ground ball to right fielder Michael Taylor.

B:2 S:0 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to right fielder Michael Taylor. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Miguel Cabrera doubles (5) on a fly ball to right fielder Michael Taylor. Austin Jackson scores. Andy Dirks to 3rd.
TIED 2 - 2

B:1 S:0 O:0
Prince Fielder reaches on fielding error by first baseman Kila Ka'aihue. Andy Dirks scores. Miguel Cabrera to 3rd.
3 - 2

B:2 S:2 O:0
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Reddick. Miguel Cabrera scores. Delmon Young to 2nd. Prince Fielder advances to 3rd, on fielding error by center fielder Josh Reddick.
4 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Alex Avila doubles (4) on a fly ball to center fielder Josh Reddick. Prince Fielder scores. Delmon Young scores.
6 - 2

B:0 S:2 O:1
Ryan Raburn flies out to right fielder Michael Taylor.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Brennan Boesch doubles (3) on a fly ball to left fielder Seth Smith. Alex Avila scores.
7 - 2

Pitcher Change: Jordan Norberto replaces Bartolo Colon.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:3 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago doubles (1) on a ground ball to left fielder Seth Smith. Brennan Boesch scores.
8 - 2

B:0 S:2 O:2
Austin Jackson flies out to center fielder Josh Reddick.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Andy Dirks walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Reddick, deflected by shortstop Cliff Pennington. Ramon Santiago scores. Andy Dirks to 3rd.
9 - 2

B:3 S:1 O:3
Prince Fielder flies out to center fielder Josh Reddick.


OAK - Bot 3rd
B:0 S:2 O:1
Michael Taylor grounds out, shortstop Ramon Santiago to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:1 O:1
Jemile Weeks singles on a line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

With Cliff Pennington batting, Jemile Weeks steals (8) 2nd base.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Cliff Pennington grounds out, first baseman Prince Fielder to pitcher Max Scherzer. Jemile Weeks to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Josh Reddick out on foul tip.

9 - 2 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:1 S:3 O:1
Delmon Young out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Alex Avila out swinging.

B:3 S:2 O:3
Ryan Raburn flies out to center fielder Josh Reddick.


OAK - Bot 4th
B:1 S:2 O:1
Jonny Gomes flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Seth Smith singles on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Brandon Inge grounds into double play, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to second baseman Ryan Raburn to first baseman Prince Fielder. Seth Smith out at 2nd.

9 - 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
Pitcher Change: Jim Miller replaces Jordan Norberto.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Brennan Boesch grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Ramon Santiago pops out to shortstop Cliff Pennington.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Austin Jackson singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Reddick.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Reddick. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a line drive to center fielder Josh Reddick. Austin Jackson scores. Andy Dirks to 2nd.
10 - 2

B:2 S:2 O:3
Prince Fielder lines out to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


OAK - Bot 5th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Kila Ka'aihue out swinging.

B:2 S:3 O:2
Kurt Suzuki out swinging.

B:1 S:0 O:3
Michael Taylor flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

10 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:2 S:0 O:0
Delmon Young singles on a soft line drive to right fielder Michael Taylor.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Alex Avila called out on .

B:3 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn pops out to catcher Kurt Suzuki in foul territory.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Brennan Boesch grounds out, second baseman Jemile Weeks to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


OAK - Bot 6th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Jemile Weeks called out on .

B:1 S:1 O:2
Cliff Pennington flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Josh Reddick triples (1) on a fly ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Jonny Gomes called out on .

10 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

DET - Top 7th
Defensive Substitution: Anthony Recker replaces catcher Kurt Suzuki, batting 8th, playing catcher.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Ramon Santiago flies out to right fielder Michael Taylor.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Austin Jackson grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Andy Dirks singles on a ground ball to center fielder Josh Reddick.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch runner Danny Worth replaces Andy Dirks.

B:0 S:2 O:3
Miguel Cabrera grounds out to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


OAK - Bot 7th
Danny Worth remains in the game as the second baseman.

Defensive switch from second base to left field for Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:1 O:0
Seth Smith singles on a ground ball to right fielder Brennan Boesch.

B:1 S:3 O:1
Brandon Inge out swinging.

B:4 S:1 O:1
Kila Ka'aihue walks. Seth Smith to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Octavio Dotel replaces Max Scherzer.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Anthony Recker flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson. Seth Smith to 3rd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Michael Taylor out on foul tip.

10 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Jerry Blevins replaces Jim Miller.

B:2 S:3 O:1
Prince Fielder out swinging.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young grounds out, third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Alex Avila grounds out, pitcher Jerry Blevins to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


OAK - Bot 8th
Defensive Substitution: Don Kelly replaces right fielder Brennan Boesch, batting 8th, playing right field.

Pitcher Change: Phil Coke replaces Octavio Dotel.

B:1 S:1 O:1
Jemile Weeks flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

Offensive Substitution: Pinch hitter Eric Sogard replaces Cliff Pennington.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Eric Sogard grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Josh Reddick singles on a soft ground ball to third baseman Miguel Cabrera. Josh Reddick advances to 2nd, on throwing error by third baseman Miguel Cabrera.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Jonny Gomes singles on a ground ball to shortstop Ramon Santiago. Josh Reddick to 3rd.

With Seth Smith batting, Jonny Gomes advances to 2nd on defensive indifference.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Seth Smith walks.

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Collin Balester replaces Phil Coke.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge hits a grand slam (4) to right field. Josh Reddick scores. Jonny Gomes scores. Seth Smith scores.
10 - 6

Coaching visit to mound.

Pitcher Change: Joaquin Benoit replaces Collin Balester.

B:3 S:2 O:2
Kila Ka'aihue doubles (5) on a ground ball to right fielder Don Kelly.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Anthony Recker walks.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Michael Taylor out swinging.

10 - 6 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Eric Sogard remains in the game as the shortstop.

Pitcher Change: Grant Balfour replaces Jerry Blevins.

B:3 S:2 O:0
Ryan Raburn doubles (4) on a line drive to center fielder Josh Reddick.

With Don Kelly batting, wild pitch by Grant Balfour, Ryan Raburn to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:1
Don Kelly grounds out, second baseman Jemile Weeks to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

With Ramon Santiago batting, Ryan Raburn caught stealing home, catcher Anthony Recker to third baseman Brandon Inge to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.

B:1 S:2 O:3
Ramon Santiago grounds out, pitcher Grant Balfour to first baseman Kila Ka'aihue.


OAK - Bot 9th
Pitcher Change: Jose Valverde replaces Joaquin Benoit.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Jemile Weeks grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Eric Sogard flies out to left fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Josh Reddick out swinging.

WIN 10 - 6

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE

Game Over-R-H-E

Tigers	10	17	1
Athletics	6	9	2

WP: Scherzer (2-3, 5.73)
LP: Colon (3-3, 3.96)

Game Info



Balester pitched to 1 batter in the 8th.

WP: Balfour.
Pitches-strikes:
Scherzer 106-66, Dotel 7-6, Coke 16-10, Balester 2-2, Benoit 18-9,
Valverde 13-9, Colon 44-31, Norberto 33-19, Miller, Ji 51-37, Blevins
10-6, Balfour 14-9.
Groundouts-flyouts: Scherzer
4-4, Dotel 0-1, Coke 1-1, Balester 0-0, Benoit 0-0, Valverde 1-0, Colon
6-2, Norberto 0-3, Miller, Ji 4-1, Blevins 2-0, Balfour 2-0.
Batters faced: Scherzer 25, Dotel 2, Coke 5, Balester 1, Benoit 3, Valverde 3, Colon 17, Norberto 8, Miller, Ji 14, Blevins 3, Balfour 3.
Inherited runners-scored: Dotel 2-0, Balester 3-3, Norberto 1-1.
Umpires: HP: Mike Everitt. 1B: Paul Schrieber. 2B: Tim Welke. 3B: Laz Diaz.
Weather: 70 degrees, clear.
Wind: 5 mph, Out to RF.
T: 3:13.
Att: 11,513.