Sacramento – Before fans could settle into their seats at Sutter Health Park, the Athletics were already playing from behind.
Detroit Tigers third baseman Kevin McGonigle launched a leadoff home run over the left-field wall, giving Detroit an early 1-0 lead and setting the tone for a night in which the Tigers offense repeatedly found its way to the seats in an 8-6 victory over the Athletics on Saturday.
McGonigle was a force at the plate, finishing with three hits, a walk and two RBIs, including the solo shot that opened the scoring. He was hardly alone in giving the Athletics pitching staff trouble.
Detroit pounded out 15 hits, including three home runs, while scoring eight runs. Four of those hits came in the first inning, when McGonigle’s home run sparked three consecutive hits. With runners on base, designated hitter Colt Keith followed with a single that drove in another run, extending Detroit’s lead to 2-0.
The Athletics had two hits of their own in the bottom of the first but stranded both runners, a problem that would follow them throughout the night.
Despite trailing by six runs entering the eighth inning, the A’s refused to go quietly. They matched Detroit’s 15-hit performance and nearly erased the deficit, but their inability to capitalize with runners on base ultimately proved costly. The Athletics stranded 10 runners in the loss.
Starting pitcher Jack Perkins struggled out of the gate, surrendering four hits and a home run in the opening inning. But after the rocky start, Perkins settled in and gave the Athletics a chance to stay within striking distance.
From the second through the fourth innings, Perkins turned up the pressure, striking out five batters while allowing just one hit. The Athletics’ offense continued to battle, but the early deficit and missed opportunities proved too much to overcome as Detroit held on for the win.
“I think it shows that I’m strong enough and capable enough to do it,” Perkins said. “With the amount of swing and miss that I have, that can make it difficult at times.”
The young pitcher found success, particularly with his strikeout ability, finishing with nine in 5.1 innings. But as the game progressed, Perkins struggled to keep the Tigers’ offense in check.
McGonigle opened the fifth inning with a single before Tigers second baseman Gleyber Torres followed with a two-run home run to center field, extending Detroit’s lead to 4-2—a lead the Tigers would not relinquish.
Detroit added to its advantage in the sixth when center fielder Max Clark launched another two-run home run. By the time the Athletics pulled Perkins, the Tigers had taken control with a 6-2 lead.
Perkins’ night ended after 5.1 innings, having surrendered six runs on nine hits, including three home runs, while striking out nine.
“If you take away those homers, you know I gave up two runs on the day,” said Perkins. “Sucks for the team aspect, especially that last one, seeing how the offense rallied late. It’s a different situation if that last homer doesn’t happen.”
A’s manager Mark Kotsay said he liked what he saw from Perkins, but acknowledged that mistakes are part of the growing process for a young pitcher.
“It’s a learning curve for these young starters. That’s what we’re talking about when they get in that moment,” Kotsay said. “Whether it’s pitch selection that probably leads a hitter up, so that’s the next step.”
The A’s bullpen surrendered two more runs, sending the Athletics into the eighth inning facing an 8-2 deficit. But the offense refused to go quietly, as center fielder Henry Bolte delivered a three-run home run to give the A’s a spark.
Trailing 8-5 with only the ninth inning remaining, the comeback seemed unlikely, but the Athletics made the Tigers sweat in the final frame. A double put left fielder Tyler Soderstrom in scoring position before he advanced to third on a wild pitch.
Pinch hitter Jeff McNeil followed with a bunt that scored Soderstrom, cutting the deficit to 8-6. But the rally ended there. Tigers closer Kenley Jansen struck out the next batter and induced a popout to secure the victory and hand the A’s their fourth consecutive loss.
The 8-6 defeat dropped the Athletics to 45-66 on the season and extended their losing streak during their homestand. The A’s will look to avoid a series sweep when they face the Tigers in the finale Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
