DETROIT (AP) — Zach Logue pitched seven sharp innings in his second major league start and the Oakland Athletics spoiled the debut of Joey Wentz by thumping the floundering Detroit Tigers 9-0 on Wednesday.
Sean Murphy and Kevin Smith each drove in two while Christian Bethancourt supplied three hits, two runs scored and an RBI for the A’s. Ramon Laureano reached base three times, scored two runs and drove in another.
Oakland, which entered Detroit on a nine-game losing streak, is 3-1 in the five-game series. The Tigers have lost eight of their last nine, scoring two runs or less in each of those defeats.
Logue (2-1), making his third career appearance, held Detroit to five hits, walked none and struck out six.
The A’s battered Wentz for six runs on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings of his first game in the majors. Miguel Cabrera led the Tigers with three hits.
Oakland scored a run in the first on Murphy’s two-out single. The A’s increased their lead to 3-0 in the second on Cristian Pache’s RBI single and Tony Kemp’s sacrifice fly.
Wentz departed after allowing three more hits and three runs in the third. Murphy had a sacrifice fly and Smith ripped a two-run double to bring in those runs.
The A’s added a run against Wily Peralta in the fifth on Bethancourt’s RBI single.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Detroit RHP Casey Mize will make a rehab start with Triple-A Toledo on Thursday. Mize has been on the 10-day injured list since April 15 with a right elbow sprain.
ROSTER MOVES
The Tigers designated RHP Drew Hutchison for assignment. Hutchison is 0-3 with a 4.60 ERA in 10 relief appearances.
KIDDIE CORPS
Wentz was the sixth player to make his major league debut with the Tigers this season. He joined fellow starting pitchers Beau Brieske and Alex Faedo, relieverss Angel De Jesus and Elvin Rodriguez and 1B Spencer Torkelson.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP James Kaprielian (0-2, 5.87) will make his third start of the season in the five-game series finale on Thursday. In his last start on Saturday, Kaprielian allowed just one run on three hits and struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings against Minnesota.
Tigers: RHP Beau Brieske (0-2, 4.20 ERA) will make his fourth career start on Thursday. Brieske has allowed five home runs across 15 innings.
