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Detroit Tigers rally to top Oakland Athletics, 2-1, even series in speedy finish
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- Detroit Tigers rally to top Oakland Athletics, 2-1, even series in speedy finish
The Detroit Tigers couldn't complete their comeback in Friday's game against the Oakland Athletics , but in Saturday's clash, they mounted a comeback and never let go.
The momentum flipped in the seventh inning.
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The Tigers beat the Athletics, 2-1, in the second of three games at the Oakland Coliseum. The one-run win occurred less than 24 hours after a one-run loss in 13 innings , which lasted nearly four hours. This time, the Tigers and Athletics needed just 2:23 to wrap things up.
"We do it every day," manager A.J. Hinch told reporters in Oakland . "We will reset our mood and our vibe. Our energy is excellent after wins, after losses, after walk-offs, after tough games, maybe even games we don't play well. If you get in that mode of resetting, over 162, it's going to pay off."
After Saturday, the Tigers (72-71) are 4½ games behind the Minnesota Twins — losers of two games in a row to the Kansas City Royals — in the race for the third and final American League wild-card spot, but there are only 19 games remaining.
Detroit Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler (38) hits into an RBI fielder's choice against the Oakland Athletics during the seventh inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
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The Tigers scored both runs in the seventh inning.
The inning began with a leadoff single from Colt Keith , and reached its climax with the bases loaded and no outs. The Tigers knotted the game at 1-1 when Dillon Dingler grounded into a force out. After that, the Tigers extended their lead to 2-1 with Parker Meadows ' sacrifice fly.
Both runs were ruled as unearned to left-handed reliever T.J. McFarland 's tab because of a missed catch error by the Athletics' second baseman on what could've been a double play groundout — off the bat of Spencer Torkelson — immediately after Keith's single.
The Tigers finished 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
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The pitching plan
The Tigers scheduled left-hander Brant Hurter as the starter for Saturday's game.
That plan changed.
Instead of Hurter, right-handed reliever Brenan Hanifee started as an opener . He retired two of the first three batters before giving way to Hurter, who completed the first inning.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Brenan Hanifee (75) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024.
Hurter took down 5⅓ innings, allowing one run on four hits and one walk with three strikeouts, throwing 67 pitches. He has a 3.00 ERA across 33 innings in seven games since making his MLB debut, including six appearances as a bulk reliever.
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The Athletics scored their one run in the fifth inning on Kyle McCann 's RBI single off Hurter's two-strike sweeper. Hurter avoided further damage by retiring Lawrence Butler and Brent Rooker , the two best hitters in the Athletics' lineup.
After Hurter, the Tigers turned to right-handed reliever Ricky Vanasco , left-handed reliever Sean Guenther and right-handed reliever Jason Foley . The Athletics threatened in the ninth with a one-out single from ex-Tiger Tyler Nevin , but Foley slammed the door.
It was Foley's 21st save.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers rally in 7th inning to beat Oakland Athletics, 2-1
