A’s Go For Series Win Against Tigers: Game Preview
Apr 13, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics outfielder Seth Smith (15) scores on a single by catcher Derek Norris (not pictured) against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning at O.Co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
After the Detroit Tigers emphatically ended the Oakland Athletics’ nine-game win streak on Saturday behind three home runs, the A’s will look to rebound this afternoon and take the series as Jarrod Parker goes for his first win of 2013 against the formidable Anibal Sanchez for Detroit.
Saturday’s game showcased plenty of offense for the fans at O.Co Coliseum, just not from the side they were hoping it would come from. Torii Hunter, Prince Fielder and Jhonny Peralta all went deep off of Brett Anderson – tying his career high for homers allowed in a game – and Justin Verlander was his usual spectacular self on the mound. Oakland will look to get their offense back on track against Sanchez, who has a 1.50 ERA in 12 innings with seven hits and 13 strikeouts.
Parker, on the other hand, has yet to regain the form that made him one of the best rookies in all of baseball last season, and it won’t get any easier for him today against one of the best hitting lineups in the Majors. Jim Leyland’s ball club is more familiar with Parker than most teams, facing him once in the 2012 regular season and twice in the ALDS and winning all three matchups. The A’s hitters will likely have to match Detroit’s success at the plate on Sunday if they hope to go home with a series win.
Sanchez is 0-2 against Oakland, but if the Tigers keep hitting like they did yesterday, he’ll have a bit of wiggle room that will come in handy against a team that’s been one of the hottest in all of baseball at the plate. The A’s lead the Majors in runs, doubles, RBI’s, and are second in home runs and on-base percentage.
The Tigers will counter with the hot bat of Fielder, who has an eight-game hitting streak going into Sunday. Fielder’s been one of the best hitters in baseball the past few years, and he’s building off of that in 2013, hitting .436 with 18 RBI, four doubles and four home runs. If he keeps this up and the Tigers find themselves in the playoffs after taking the AL Central again, he may be the latest Tiger to take home the MVP award after teammate Miguel Cabrera won it last year. Fielder is 0-for-9 with two strikeouts against Parker, so something will have to give Sunday afternoon.
LINEUPS
Oakland Athletics (9-3)
1. J. Jaso DH
2. C. Young CF
3. S. Smith LF
4. J. Lowrie SS
5. B. Moss 1B
6. J. Reddick RF
7. J. Donaldson 3B
8. D. Norris C
9. E. Sogard 2B
Detroit Tigers (6-5)
1. A. Jackson CF
2. T. Hunter RF
3. M. Cabrera 3B
4. P. Fielder 1B
5. V. Martinez DH
6. A. Dirks LF
7. J. Peralta SS
8. A. Avila C
9. O. Infante 2B