McCarthy's gem lifts A's over Tigers
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brandon McCarthy struck out 10 batters through seven scoreless innings to lead the Oakland Athletics past the Detroit Tigers, 3-1, in the third test of a four-game series.
McCarthy (3-3) scattered four hits and did not walk a batter for Oakland, which improved to 3-2 on a six-game homestand.
"There is no give up in us. There's a lot of fight and it's one of those things, if you label intangibles, it's a great thing for a team to have," said McCarthy.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Brian Fuentes allowed a run in the ninth but still recorded his second save of the year.
Doug Fister (0-1) gave up a run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight in six innings of a losing effort.
"I can't focus on what he's doing," Fister said about McCarthy. "It's always a pitching battle and the ball didn't roll our way tonight."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Alex Avila knocked in the lone run for the Tigers, who dropped consecutive games for the first time since a five-game slide from April 22-27.
The Athletics struck first in the bottom of the first inning when Jemile Weeks led off with a single, advanced to third on a Josh Reddick base hit and came home on Jonny Gomes' single to left.
Brandon Inge later worked a two-out walk to load the bases, but Kurt Suzuki grounded out to third to end the inning.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Detroit threatened to get on the board in the fifth inning after Brennan Boesch hit a leadoff single and Ramon Santiago was hit by a pitch.
A Danny Worth ground out advanced the runners, but McCarthy fanned Don Kelly before inducing an Andy Dirks ground out to end the inning.
That started a streak of nine straight retired batters by McCarthy and Oakland added some cushion to its lead in the seventh off Phil Coke when Collin Cowgill reached first on a fielder's choice and rounded the bases on Cliff Pennington's triple into the right-field corner.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Pennington then came home on a Daric Barton single to give the Athletics a 3-0 advantage.
Fuentes entered after Ryan Cook tossed a scoreless eighth and gave up a one- out double to Delmon Young. Young then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on Avila's sacrifice fly to avoid the shutout for the Tigers.
Game Notes
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Oakland placed outfielder Yoenis Cespedes on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to May 7, and recalled outfielder Michael Taylor from Triple-A Sacramento earlier Saturday...McCarthy improved to 3-3 in 16 appearances -- nine starts -- against Detroit...Fister fell to 5-4 in 11 career starts against the A's...Oakland did not attempt a stolen base in the game, snapping a streak of five straight games with a stolen base.