Tigers beat Athletics 7-3

Anthony Gose #12 of the Detroit Tigers scores on catcher Stephen Vogt #21 of the Oakland Athletics from second base on a double by Ian Kinsler during the third inning at Comerica Park on April 28, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland A’s 7-3 to clinch the four-game series.

The game came to life in the third inning, when the A’s scored the first run on a 46 °F afternoon in Detroit. It looked like an easy 1-2-3 out for SP Anibal Sanchez until he issued a walk to CF Billy Burns. The center fielder managed to steal second base as well as third base and ran home on a RBI-single, Oakland’s first hit of the game, by RF Josh Reddick.

The Tigers, however, responded immediately. CF Anthony Gose started the bottom of the third inning with a double. 2B Ian Kinsler followed with another double and drove in Anthony Gose for the tying run. It was Kinsler’s fourth double of the season.

SP Chris Bassitt walked RF J.D. Martinez next and 1B Miguel Cabrera singled to center to bring in Ian Kinsler for the 2-1 lead. J.D. Martinez advanced to third base on the play.

DH Victor Martinez hit a high fly ball to left field. When Oakland’s LF Mark Canha threw the ball to Chris Bassitt, J.D. Martinez noticed that he didn’t pay him any attention and took off home for Detroit’s third run. Ironically, Miguel Cabrera reached second base and left Oakland with no double play.

LF Justin Upton’s high fly ball moved Miguel Cabrera to third base and 3B Nick Castellano’s following double drove in Miguel Cabrera for a 4-1 lead.

The A’s tried to come back straight away but C Stephen Vogt’s leadoff home run remained their only run in the fourth inning. It was Vogt’s third homer this season.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Tigers pulled away. Anthony Gose hit a home run after a walk to SS Jose Iglesias to put Detroit 6-2 up. With two outs, LF Justin Upton hit an RBI-single, his only hit of the game, and Ian Kinsler crossed home plate for Detroit’s seventh run of the game.

This was Chris Bassitt’s final throw of the game. He was relieved after 3.2 innings and 94 pitches. He surrendered 10 hits, 7 earned runs and 3 walks while striking out 5. His ERA and WHIP went up to 6.11 and 1.75, respectively.

The fourth inning was the second straight inning the Tigers sent eight batters to the plate.

The A’s scored the final run of the game in the top of the ninth inning. With two outs DH Khris Davis singled to right center and Billy Burns came home for his second run of the day.

Anibal Sanchez pitched 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits, 2 earned runs and a season-high 7 walks while striking out 9, another season-high. He lowered his ERA to 6.08 and his WHIP to 1.86.

Anthony Gose hit 2-for-4 with 2 runs, 1 HR and 2 RBI. He is batting .193 this season and now has 8 runs, 2 HR and 5 RBI.

The Detroit Tigers (11-10) will travel to the Minnesota Twins (7-15) for a three-game series from Friday through Sunday. The Oakland A’s (11-12) return home to face the Houston Astros (7-15) from Friday to Sunday.