The Detroit Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics, crushing them 11-0 in the final game of the series.
The Tigers' Keider Montero fired six shutout frames, allowing no runs in his outing. The Athletics' young lefty Gage Jump struggled to contain the Tigers' offense, which pounded out 12 hits and drew nine walks. Montero's performance was crucial in the shutout victory.
A.J. Hinch stacked up his right-handed hitters to face Jump, and the strategy paid off as the Tigers took an early 2-0 lead. Eduardo Valencia contributed a pair of two-run doubles, leading the way for the offense.
The Tigers' Spencer Torkelson smoked a double that split the left and center fielders to the wall, scoring both baserunners for a 2-0 lead. Montero took the bump knowing that as a fly ball pitcher, he needed to avoid mistakes in a very home run friendly park.
Montero got a pair of quick outs on routine contact, then walked Carlos Cortes with two outs in the bottom half. Alika Williams popped out to Torres to end the inning. Montero hadn't been terribly efficient and still didn't have a strikeout to this point.
The Athletics' Lawrence Butler led off with a single, but Montero got a fly out and Alika Williams grounded into a force of Butler. Montero wasn't getting many whiffs, and Valencia may have cost him a strike or two.
The Tigers went in order in the top of the third, but they did continue to wear on Jump, and he finished the inning at 55 pitches. Montero got the first two hitters in the bottom half, but Soderstrom lined a one-hopper over the right field wall for a two-out double.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Max Clark put together another patient at-bat and walked for the second straight plate appearance. Malgeri worked a full count and Jump's effectively wild routine was wearing thin. Heim wasted a challenge, but the pitch was low and there were two on for McKinstry.
Gleyber Torres got an 0-1 heater and paddled it back through the box for a two-run single. McKinstry went first to third just ahead of the throw, and it was 4-0 Tigers. Dingler had some trouble with Jump's slider and struck out.
Mark Kotsay brought in Elvis Alvarado, who's triple digit heat remains intact. Valencia fouled off a triple digit 0-2 pitch, and then Alvardo dropped a slider right down the middle and Valencia came through once again, smashing a two-run double to left. The Tigers' Torkelson flew out, and a now rested Montero took the mound with a big old lead.
Montero dropped in a perfect 0-2 slider to McNeil to start the bottom of the fifth. Valencia failed to challenge it, and McNeil fouled off a pair of heaters before flying out to McKinstry in right field. Henry Bolte fouled a 2-2 fastball right back into the mask of home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak.
After a little concussion testing, it was determined that Bolte needed to leave the game. Adam Beck moved to catcher, and the Tigers went in order against Alvarado in the top of the fifth, with Lee and Malgeri flying out, and Clark striking out swinging.
The Tigers' sweep is their third of the season, and they've now won five of their last six games.
Source: Yahoo Sports
