A’s rally falls short as Tigers take series

The Athletics showed more fight Saturday. However, the result stayed the same.

Henry Bolte hit a three-run homer during a late rally, but the A’s fell 8-6 to the Detroit Tigers at Sutter Health Park. The loss was their fourth straight and eighth in 10 games.

Detroit broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth. Then Max Clark’s first major league homer stretched the lead in the sixth.

The Athletics dropped to 45-66 and lost their 11th consecutive series. They will try to avoid a sweep Sunday.

Trading runs early

Detroit struck immediately against Jack Perkins.

Kevin McGonigle led off the game with his 11th homer. Gleyber Torres followed with a single and scored on Colt Keith’s RBI hit.

Still, Perkins limited the damage to two runs. Then the Athletics began to work back into the game.

Jacob Wilson singled in the third and scored on Lawrence Butler’s two-out hit. Next, Bolte doubled to open the fourth and eventually scored on Wilson’s forceout.

That tied the game at 2. However, the A’s could not keep Detroit quiet for long.

Tigers pull away

McGonigle singled to start the fifth. Then Torres drove a two-run homer to right-center, restoring Detroit’s two-run lead.

The Tigers added two more in the sixth. Spencer Torkelson singled before Clark hit his first major league homer.

Perkins left after 5 1/3 innings. He allowed six runs on nine hits and three homers, while walking one and striking out nine.

Detroit kept adding against the bullpen. Torkelson delivered an RBI single in the seventh before McGonigle drove in another run in the eighth.

José Suarez allowed one run in 1 1/3 innings. Scott Blewett gave up another run on four hits across 1 1/3 innings.

Luis Medina worked a scoreless ninth despite allowing two hits.

Bolte sparks the comeback

The Athletics trailed 8-2 entering the eighth, but their offense finally broke through.

Tommy White and Butler opened the inning with singles. After Jeff McNeil flied out, Bolte drove a three-run homer to center.

The 411-foot shot was Bolte’s fourth of the season. It cut Detroit’s lead to 8-5 and brought the crowd back into the game.

Brian Serven walked, and Donovan Walton followed with a single. However, Jacob Waguespack retired Wilson and Jonah Heim to stop the rally.

The A’s threatened again in the ninth. Tyler Soderstrom doubled and advanced on a wild pitch before McNeil brought him home with a bunt single.

Still, Kenley Jansen struck out Carlos Cortes and Butler before Bolte flied out to end the game.

Hits without enough runs

The Athletics finished with 15 hits, matching Detroit’s total.

White went 3-for-4, while Bolte finished 3-for-4 with a homer, a double, three RBIs and two runs. Butler added two hits and one RBI.

Soderstrom also had two hits, including a ninth-inning double. Meanwhile, Wilson and McNeil each drove in a run.

However, the A’s went 5-for-19 with runners in scoring position and left 10 runners aboard. They also grounded into two double plays.

Detroit received three hits and two RBIs from McGonigle. Torres and Clark each homered and drove in two runs.

Up next

The Athletics will try to avoid a sweep Sunday at Sutter Health Park. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. PDT.

Left-hander Gage Jump starts for the A’s. He enters at 4-6 with a 4.00 ERA and 68 strikeouts.

Detroit counters with right-hander Keider Montero, who is 7-6 with a 3.34 ERA and 79 strikeouts.