Athletics 10, Tigers 2: Jordan Zimmermann struggled and the bats were quiet

A short stretch of solid outings for Jordan Zimmermann ended on Saturday night, and the Tigers were soundly beaten in Oakland by a final score of 10-2.

For three innings, Zimmermann hung in there, allowing just a solo home run to Jurickson Profar. He hadn’t surrendered more than two runs in a start since August 4th, so things seemed reasonably well in hand all things considered. Meanwhile the Tigers loaded the bases in the second inning and got a key two out single from Harold Castro to score Dawel Lugo and Travis Demeritte. Castro would end up with a four hit night, all of them singles.

In the fourth, Zimmermann’s outing came apart at the seams. He lost command of his fastball and just doesn’t have the stuff to pitch from behind in counts. With a man on, he hit one batter and walked the next to load the bases. The A’s went on to score four runs, the big blow coming from a two-run triple off the bat of Marcus Semien. Center fielder Harold Castro had a bead on it with a leap at the wall, but couldn’t haul it in as the ball ricocheted away and A’s shortstop flew around the basepaths to third.

Things were pretty academic from there. Zimmermann allowed another run in the fifth before departing. Matt Hall was hit hard in relief, while Zac Reininger settled things down the final 2 ¹⁄₃ innings, allowing one run with three punchouts. Dawel Lugo and Travis Demeritte each turned in a highlight reel defensive play and scored a run. Jake Rogers and Brandon Dixon each struck out four times.

After the early rally, the offense just got nothing going at all and it was a pretty desultory affair the rest of the night. A’s starter Chris Bassitt punched out 11 Tigers, and turned things over to a pair of hard-throwing lefties in A.J. Puk and Ryan Buchter. They mowed through the Tigers lineup in the seventh and eighth innings before Blake Treinen came on to cruelly strike out the side in the ninth for emphasis.