Brant Hurter pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing just one run, and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Oakland Athletics 2-1 on Saturday.
With this win, Detroit improved its record to just above .500 after dropping three of their last four games. The Tigers (72-71) haven’t had a winning season since their 86-75 record in 2016.
Detroit is making a push for the third AL wild card and bounced back well after a tough 7-6 loss to Oakland in 13 innings on Friday.
“Our vibe, our energy is excellent — after wins, after losses, after walk-offs, after tough games, maybe even games we don’t play well,” manager A.J. Hinch said.
“If you get in that mode of resetting over 162 (games), it’s going to pay off, and games like last night are key when we already know we’re going to show up in the ballpark ready to play the next day.”
Hurter (4-1) took over after Brenan Hanifee got the first two outs as an opener. Hurter gave up four hits, struck out three, and walked one.
The 26-year-old left-hander, who has made one start in his first seven major league appearances this year, is adjusting to a bulk relief role.
“Just going out there and having multiple innings has gotten me more comfortable, and then when I start, it really doesn’t affect me,” Hurter said.
Oakland (62-81) lost for the third time in four games. The A’s could not capitalize on a strong performance by Brady Basso, who struck out six and allowed only three hits in six innings.
After Basso left, the Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh inning, aided by an error from second baseman Zack Gelof. Dillon Dingler drove in Colt Keith with a grounder against T.J. McFarland (2-2), and Parker Meadows extended the lead to 2-1 with a sacrifice fly.
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said they were ready to use their top relievers if they had a lead late in the game.
“If we had played better defense in the seventh, I think we win this game 1-0,” Kotsay said.
Ricky Vanasco pitched the seventh inning for Detroit, and Sean Guenther threw 1 1/3 hitless innings. Jason Foley got the last two outs for his 21st save.
Oakland took the lead in the fifth inning. Zack Gelof singled, stole second base, and moved to third on Nick Allen’s flyout to center field. Kyle McCann then hit an RBI single.
Basso threw 85 pitches, with 56 strikes, in his first major league start. The 26-year-old left-hander had previously appeared in three relief games for the A’s this season.
“I thought the kid did a great job,” Kotsay said. “It was impressive. … Just an incredible job by a young man, really poised on the mound, really impressive day.”
Basso said starting a major league game was a “dream come true” and felt he gave his team a chance to win.
“As a little kid, all you want to do is pitch in the big leagues and I was able to do that,” Basso said. “It was awesome. It was really fun.”
The A’s, who will move their games to Sacramento next season before relocating to Las Vegas in 2028, drew 14,694 fans. They are in their final series of their second-to-last homestand.
Oakland’s Lawrence Butler hit a double in the third inning to extend his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.
