Gio Urshela doubles in winning run as red-hot Tigers top A’s

Apr 5, 2024, 12:59 PM | Updated: 1:36 pm

DETROIT, MICHIGAN - APRIL 05: Gio Urshela #13 of the Detroit Tigers leads off from third base during the sixth inning of a game against the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on April 05, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

(Photo by Mike Mulholland/Getty Images)

BY FIELD LEVEL MEDIA

Sactown Sports

Gio Urshela drove in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the eighth as Detroit defeated the Oakland Athletics 5-4 in the Tigers’ home opener Friday afternoon.

Matt Vierling and Mark Canha hit solo homers and Spencer Torkelson doubled twice and scored two runs.

Detroit starter Tarik Skubal gave up four runs and four hits while striking out nine in 6 1/3 innings. Jason Foley (2-0) picked up the win with one scoreless inning and Alex Lange notched the save as the Tigers won their sixth game in seven tries to start the season.

Brent Rooker and Abraham Toro homered for the A’s, whose starter, JP Sears, allowed four runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The only runner Sears allowed in the first three innings was Canha, who was hit by a pitch. Sears had much less success during the second time through the Tigers’ order.

Vierling led off the fourth with his first homer of the season, smacking an 0-1 fastball over the left field wall. Andy Ibanez then reached on an infield single and advanced to second on third baseman Darell Hernaiz’s throwing error.

Torkelson followed with a double to left, knocking in Ibanez. Greene drove in Torkelson with an RBI single to left.

Skubal cruised through the first five innings, allowing only a single to Brent Rooker and a walk to Tyler Nevin. The A’s broke through in the sixth with two extra-base hits.

Zack Gelof drilled a one-out double down the left-field line. With two down, Rooker swung at a first-pitch slider and sailed it over the left field fence to make it 3-2.

Canha, facing one of his former teams, extended Detroit’s lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the inning. His second homer of the season was measured at 414 feet.

That lead didn’t last long. Toro hit a one-out homer off Skubal in the seventh. Skubal departed after walking JJ Bleday.

Ryan Noda doubled off reliever Will Vest and Nick Allen knocked in Bleday with a groundout.

The Tigers regained the advantage in the bottom of the eighth against Lucas Erceg (0-1). Torkelson led off with a double and scored the eventual game winner on Urshela’s opposite-field double.