Athletics lose to Tigers 7-3, dropping 3rd straight on road
DETROIT (AP) - The Oakland Athletics were the first team to break through to score against Jordan Zimmermann and strung together 10 hits against the Detroit Tigers.
That wasn't enough.
Miguel Cabrera hit two home runs, Zimmermann's scoreless innings streak ended after center fielder Tyler Collins appeared to direct an obscene gesture at fans and Detroit snapped a skid with a 7-3 win over the A's on Monday night.
"We did a good job against Zimmermann, but we hit a lot of balls hard right at someone," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "(Mike) Aviles made a couple huge plays that stopped us from getting another run and more runners on base."
Aviles filled in at second base for Ian Kinsler, who was a late scratch due to flu-like symptoms.
Kendall Graveman (1-2) allowed 10 hits, including three homers, and six runs.
"Kendall had good stuff for a while, but when it went, it went fast," Melvin said. "He made a couple mistakes and it let them put a pretty big lead on us."
Cabrera hit a solo homer in the second and three-run shot in the four-run fifth inning, which was followed by Victor Martinez's blast over the right-center wall.
"I threw (Cabrera) two sinkers that were supposed to be away," Graveman said. "I got the sink I wanted, but they both backed up and got too much of the plate. Everybody's seen that guy's trophy case - you can't make mistakes like that to him."
The two-time MVP and one-time Triple Crown winner entered the game hitting just .206 with three doubles and one homer. The previously slumping slugger hit a double in his second at-bat and finished 4 for 4 at the plate with a single.
A's right-hander Andrew Triggs made his major league debut, pitching the eighth and striking out Collins, who was booed before his at-bat started.
"It was good to get him an inning on his first day," Melvin said. "There will always be nerves for your first game, but now he's got a nice, clean inning to remember and I'm sure it helped his self-confidence."
Oakland dropped its third straight game on the road after winning its first seven as visitors this season, the franchise's best start away from home since 1990.
Zimmermann (4-0) gave up a run for the first time with the Tigers following 24 1/3 scoreless innings, the longest by a pitcher at the start of a season in franchise history.
"I had a good little stretch going," he said. "Unfortunately, it ended tonight. Hopefully, I can start a new one."
Zimmermann, who signed with Detroit as a free agent after spending the first seven years of his career in Washington, gave up seven hits and three runs - one earned - and a walk.
His performance and Cabrera's hitting was overshadowed a bit by a teammate.
Collins extended the middle finger on his left hand and waved it from right to left, and also appeared to yell an obscenity to the booing crowd.
He lost a flyball by Oakland's Marcus Semien in the lights, and an error charged to left fielder Justin Upton allowed Semien to reach third. Semien scored after Billy Burns, the next batter, hit a single to end Zimmermann's unblemished start.
"To be at home and to hear boos after that play hit a trigger inside of me and I lashed out completely inappropriately," Collins said. "I'm absolutely embarrassed it happened and I'm very sorry to everybody in Detroit."
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Athletics: RHP Henderson Alvarez was scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Nashville on Monday night. Alvarez is hoping to return in May after shoulder surgery in July.
UP NEXT:
Athletics LHP Rich Hill (2-2, 3.32 ERA) and Tigers RHP Mike Pelfrey (0-3, 3.68) take the mound in the second game of the four-game series.