Tarik Skubal tossed seven scoreless innings, Jeimer Candelario hit a three-run double and the Detroit Tigers snapped a six-game losing streak by defeating the Oakland Athletics 6-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Tuesday.
Though the game was played at Detroit’s Comerica Park, the Tigers batted first. The game was originally scheduled to be played in Oakland during the first week of the season.
Skubal (2-2) allowed three hits, walked three and struck out five. Candelario had three hits for the first time this season.
Jonathan Schoop had two hits, including a solo home run, and scored twice for Detroit, which had been blanked in its previous two games. Willi Castro added three hits and scored a run as the Tigers rapped 12 hits after managing just five combined in their last two outings.
Joe Jimenez and Drew Hutchison finished off the shutout, with each contributing an inning of scoreless relief.
Starter Frankie Montas (2-3) allowed four runs on seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for Oakland, which snapped a nine-game losing streak by winning the series opener on Monday.
Skubal got into some trouble in the bottom of the fourth when he issued two two-out walks. He escaped that jam by retiring Kevin Smith on a fly ball.
The Tigers ended a 28-inning scoreless streak in the next inning. Schoop walked and Castro slapped a soft single. A bunt single by Tucker Barnhart loaded the bases.
Derek Hill ended Detroit’s drought with a sacrifice fly to bring home Schoop. Robbie Grossman then hit into a fielder’s choice as Castro scored.
Schoop made it 3-0 in the sixth with his second home run of the season, a two-out blast to left.
Detroit doubled its lead in the seventh. Montas was removed after walking Grossman with one out. Kirby Snead replaced him and gave up back-to-back singles to Austin Meadows and Javier Baez. Candelario then unloaded the bases when he drove a 3-2 offering into the left-center gap.
The teams were playing the second game of a five-game series.
–Field Level Media
