WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Keider Montero pitched six scoreless innings, Eduardo Valencia drove in four runs and the Detroit Tigers completed their first season-series sweep ever against an American League opponent with an 11-0 victory over the Athletics on Sunday.
The Athletics plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028, when they are scheduled to open play at a new ballpark on the Strip.
One day after trading ace Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three prospects, the Tigers responded with their third straight win to remain within 2 1/2 games of the last wild-card spot in the AL.
Spencer Torkelson hit a two-run double in the first inning against Gage Jump (4-7) to stake Montero to the early lead. Gleyber Torres added a two-run single and Valencia had a two-run double in the fourth inning to break the game open. Valencia added a two-run double in a four-run eighth.
Montero (8-6) allowed just two hits and two walks.
The Tigers followed up a three-game sweep at home in early July against the A’s by winning all three games this weekend to finish the season series 6-0 for their first sweep ever against an AL team. This marked the fifth time the A’s went winless against an AL foe with it last happening when they went 0-6 against Toronto in 2019.
Jump struggled to find the strike zone as he was unable to build on the six scoreless innings he threw Tuesday to beat Boston and snap a five-start losing streak. He walked six batters and allowed six runs in 3 2/3 innings.
The final four-plus innings were played with only three umpires after home plate ump Jeremie Rehak left the game after taking a foul ball off his mask. Second base umpire Adam Beck took over behind the plate.
On the mend
Athletics slugger Nick Kurtz will see a hand specialist in Los Angeles on Monday about his injured right thumb and could be headed to the injured list.
Kurtz went on the injured list with a sprained right thumb on July 11 and returned two weeks later. But he has struggled at the plate since then, going 1 for 18 in seven games since returning to the lineup. Kurtz was also hit on the left forearm with a pitch on Wednesday night but was able to return to the lineup for the next two games.
Manager Mark Kotsay said on Sunday that the team will determine the next steps for Kurtz after he visits the specialist.
The 23-year-old Kurtz is batting .256 with 21 homers and a team-high 69 RBIs. Kurtz ranks third in the majors with 79 walks and is fourth among qualifiers with a .396 on-base percentage going into Sunday’s games. He also ranks 12th in the majors with an .879 OPS.
Kotsay said shortstop Jacob Wilson has been dealing with tendinitis in his knee that has prevented him from playing in the field since Wednesday. Wilson was a designated hitter the past three games and was out of the starting lineup on Sunday but should be back at shortstop for the series opener at Cincinnati on Tuesday. Wilson has gone 107 straight games without an error, three shy of Mike Bordick’s record for a shortstop set in 2002.
The A’s also expect to get right-hander J.T. Ginn off the injured list to start that game against the Reds. Ginn has been out since July 19 with a blister on his right middle finger. Ginn is 8-6 with a 3.46 ERA this season.
Third baseman Zack Gelof will begin a rehab assignment on Tuesday at Triple-A Las Vegas after being out since July 10 after suffering a cut on his right knee when he slid into the wall making a catch.
