Nick Kurtz hit a three-run homer, Jacob Lopez pitched seven strong innings and the visiting Athletics blanked the Detroit Tigers, 3-0, on Wednesday night.
Kurtz had three of the Athletics’ seven hits.
Lopez (2-4) allowed just three hits and walked one while striking out six in seven innings. Michael Kelly pitched the eighth and Mason Miller got the last three outs for his 15th save.
Detroit starter Jack Flaherty (5-9), who gave up the homer, lasted six innings. He allowed five hits, four walks and struck out seven.
Riley Greene singled with two out in the first. Detroit didn’t get another hit until the sixth inning.
The A’s had two runners on in the second as Kurtz walked and Luis Urias had a two-out single. Flaherty got out of that jam by retiring Willie MacIver on a flyout.
Flaherty got into more trouble in the third and it proved costly. Lawrence Butler drew a one-out walk and stole second. The Tigers challenged the safe call but it stood. Flaherty then walked Brent Rooker with two outs before Kurtz clobbered a sinker an estimated 438 feet to center field for his 11th home run.
Detroit threatened in the sixth. Parker Meadows drew a leadoff walk but was quickly erased as Gleyber Torres bounced into a double play. Jahmai Jones then lined a double to right but Lopez responded by retiring Greene on a groundout.
In the seventh, Wenceel Perez smacked an opposite-field triple against Lopez with one out. The Tigers still couldn’t break through as Zach McKinstry struck out and Dillon Dingler popped out.
Detroit reliever Matt Gage got into trouble in the eighth as Kurtz and Max Muncy had consecutive singles. After a short flyout, Gage was taken out in favor of Dylan Smith. The runners were left stranded as Urias popped out and pinch hitter JJ Bleday struck out.
Torres had a two-out double in the eighth off Kelly but pinch-hitter Colt Keith was robbed of a hit as center fielder Denzel Clarke made a diving catch.
Miller struck out two of the three batters he faced to close it out.
–Field Level Media
