The News' Andrew Graham gives his quick takes on the Tigers' 4-1 victory over the Athletics on Thursday:
Detroit found itself in a pitcher's duel — Framber Valdez vs. a bullpen game for the Athletics — on Thursday, but boy did the Tigers make the hits count to stake out a lead, twice, via the long ball.
Jake Rogers hit a home run on back-to-back days with his solo shot in the third inning, as he makes the start for Dillon Dingler after his hand injury Wednesday. That was Detroit's only hit until Zach McKinstry came up in the bottom of the fifth inning with Kerry Carpenter on first base via a walk.
Working from a 3-0 to 3-2 count, McKinstry got a fast ball low and down the middle and pummeled it out to right center field. That put Detroit up, 3-1, at the time, right after giving up a run in the top of the inning — Valdez had taken a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Slugging and hitting the long ball, specifically, has been a boost for the Detroit offense as the Tigers work out of this hole in the standings, and it's especially valuable if you're only going to manage a few hits.
Detroit found itself in a pitcher's duel — Framber Valdez vs. a bullpen game for the Athletics — on Thursday, but boy did the Tigers make the hits count to stake out a lead, twice, via the long ball.
Jake Rogers hit a home run on back-to-back days with his solo shot in the third inning, as he makes the start for Dillon Dingler after his hand injury Wednesday. That was Detroit's only hit until Zach McKinstry came up in the bottom of the fifth inning with Kerry Carpenter on first base via a walk.
Working from a 3-0 to 3-2 count, McKinstry got a fast ball low and down the middle and pummeled it out to right center field. That put Detroit up, 3-1, at the time, right after giving up a run in the top of the inning — Valdez had taken a no-hitter into the fifth inning.
Slugging and hitting the long ball, specifically, has been a boost for the Detroit offense as the Tigers work out of this hole in the standings, and it's especially valuable if you're only going to manage a few hits.
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