Athletics 3, Tigers 1: Bats slumber as Tigers lose 100th game of the year

The Tigers have managed a new low, despite back-to-back terrible seasons, as they reached their 100th loss of the season in Oakland on Sunday by a score of 3-1.

The dynamic duo of Daniel Norris and Drew Verhagen got the tandem start in this one and again proved a solid pairing. Norris allowed a double to lead off the first inning, leading to an eventual run. But he was good overall, and wouldn’t allow another hit through three innings of one-run ball.

Drew VerHagen took over from Norris in the fourth, and as they had with Norris, the A’s struck quickly before he could settle in. VerHagen got the first out, but then surrendered back-to-back singles. Khris Davis followed with a two run double to plate their final two runs of the game. To his credit, VerHagen pulled it together to escape the inning, and maneuvered his way into the seventh without allowing another run.

The problem, was that A’s starter Sean Manaea, making just his second start of the year, absolutely throttled the Tigers’ meager lineup, punching out 10 along the way. The big southpaw allowed just two hits and two walks. Christin Stewart launched a solo shot to lead off the fifth with his ninth home run, but other than a Victor Reyes single later in the game, the offense sleepwalked their way through the contest.

Gregory Soto cleaned up the final two outs of the eighth inning for VerHagen, leaving the Tigers with a chance for a late rally. A’s closer Liam Hendricks had other plans, setting down the Tigers in order in the top of the ninth to serve them their 100th loss on the season. That marks the first time the club has reached this particular low point since the disastrous 2003 campaign.