A's seek long outing from Milone to spell taxed 'pen

By Quinn Roberts / MLB.com | 5/11/2012 1:53 AM ET

A night after Bartolo Colon lasted just 2 1/3 innings in the series opener against the Tigers, the A's will look for a much needed quality start out of Tommy Milone on Friday night.

The left-hander went 3-1 with a 2.00 ERA in his first four outings this season, yet he has struggled mightily in his last two outings, allowing at least five runs in both contests, while going 1-1 with an 11.17 ERA.

Getting the win in his last start against the Rays, Milone surrendered five runs on five hits in just five innings of work, but he was bailed out by an Oakland offense in an eventual 9-5 win.

Surviving a rocky first inning, in which he threw 41 pitches and allowed four runs, Milone became just the second A's pitcher in the past three years to allow five runs and still get the victory.

"I don't really know what happened in that first inning," said Milone, who walked the first three Rays he faced. "I kind of lost control. Having thrown 41 pitches, I figured I wouldn't be in the game much longer. After that, I forgot all about the first inning. I just went out there and threw strikes."

He'll be up against right-hander Rick Porcello, who has won back-to-back starts after making an adjustment in his delivery.

Working with pitching coach Jeff Jones to bring his hands over his head before he throws the ball, which helps keep the location of his pitches down, Porcello said the repetition is making him more comfortable.

That was obvious on Sunday against the White Sox, when Porcello tossed 6 1/3 innings, giving up just one run on four hits for the win.

"Surprisingly, we tried it in the bullpen in New York and it felt a little weird," Porcello said. "But then the next day, I went into it again and it felt a lot more natural the second time around. So it really didn't take that long to feel natural."

Tigers: Players show up early for BP
• Miguel Cabrera, Delmon Young, Brennan Boesch and Ryan Raburn were all out early to take their swings before Thursday's series opener against the A's, and boy did it pay off.

Plating 10 runs in the game, including an eight-run third inning, the Tigers got some much needed offense after the team scored three runs or less in four of their past five outings before Thursday.

• Austin Jackson has hit safely in 10 of his last 13 games. He is hitting .404 (21-for-52) with four doubles, a home run and seven RBIs.

A's: McCarthy to start Saturday
• Right-hander Brandon McCarthy came out of his Thursday bullpen session pain-free and will now start Saturday's game against the Tigers.

The A's became concerned on Tuesday when McCarthy was scratched from his start because of soreness in his throwing shoulder, which landed the pitcher on the disabled list in four of the past five seasons.

"I didn't feel anything today," McCarthy said. "I felt fine, and it's really not a concern at this point. I wasn't mentally hung up, wasn't worried about it. I pretty much knew what to expect, and unless something unexpected happened, I wasn't going to be surprised. It went the way I wanted it to, and it just leaves me perfectly on course for Saturday."

• Yoenis Cespedes said Thursday afternoon that his left hand felt "better than yesterday," meaning the outfielder could potentially return to the lineup as soon as Friday. Cespedes, who on Wednesday was diagnosed with a muscle strain in the back of his hand, hit off the tee and took part in a round of soft toss Thursday.

Worth noting
• Oakland's bullpen has allowed just five runs in 27 2/3 innings over the past six games after allowing two or more runs in three of the previous five games.

• Porcello is 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA in four starts in Oakland, allowing 33 hits in 22 2/3 innings.






Tigers: RHP Rick Porcello (3-2, 4.91 ERA)

Porcello has back-to-back wins in solid outings after pitching coach Jeff Jones tweaked his delivery to bring his hands over his head before he throws the ball. He's 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA in four starts in Oakland, allowing 33 hits in 22 2/3 innings.


Athletics: LHP Tommy Milone (4-2, 4.42 ERA)

Milone gave up five hits and five earned runs in five innings against Tampa Bay in his previous start, striking out one while walking four and recording a win.








INJURY UPDATE:
• RHP Al Alburquerque (right elbow surgery, 60-day disabled list on April 4).
• RHP Luis Marte (strained left hamstring, 15-day disabled list on April 4).
• C Victor Martinez (left knee surgery, 60-day disabled list on March 12).








To track MLB play-by-play, to help post GDT outcomes: http://m.mlb.com/scores/


On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• SCOREBOARD
• Official Press Pass game notes

On television

•
• Direct TV Extra Innings Schedule

On radio

• ,
• XM Channel Schedule








• SATURDAY, May 12:
Tigers (RHP Doug Fister (0-0, 0.00 ERA)) AT Athletics (RHP Brandon McCarthy (2-3, 2.96 ERA)), 8:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• SUNDAY, May 13:
Tigers (RHP Justin Verlander (3-1, 2.63 ERA)) AT Athletics (RHP Jarrod Parker (1-0, 1.80 ERA)), 4:05 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• MONDAY, May 14:
Tigers (LHP Drew Smyly (1-0, 1.59 ERA)) AT White Sox (LHP John Danks (2-4, 5.89 ERA)), 8:10 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)


• TUESDAY, May 15:
Tigers (RHP Max Scherzer (2-3, 5.73 ERA)) AT White Sox (RHP Jake Peavy (4-1, 1.89 ERA)), 2:10 p.m. ET FSD HD, / 1270 AM & 97.1 FM)

STARTING LINEUPS:


TIGERS

Austin Jackson, CF
Andy Dirks, LF
Miguel Cabrera, 3B
Prince Fielder, 1B
Delmon Young, DH
Ryan Raburn, RF
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Gerald Laird, C
Danny Worth, 2B

P: Rick Porcello


ATHLETICS

Jemile Weeks, 2B
Cliff Pennington, SS
Josh Reddick, RF
Kila Ka’aihue, DH
Seth Smith, LF
Brandon Inge, 3B
Daric Barton, 1B
Kurt Suzuki, C
Colin Cowgill, CF

P: Tommy Milone

DET - Top 1st
B:3 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson doubles (9) on a line drive to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Andy Dirks singles on a line drive to center fielder Collin Cowgill. Austin Jackson to 3rd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Miguel Cabrera grounds into double play, shortstop Cliff Pennington to second baseman Jemile Weeks to first baseman Daric Barton. Austin Jackson scores. Andy Dirks out at 2nd.
1 - 0

B:2 S:3 O:3
Prince Fielder out swinging.


OAK - Bot 1st
B:0 S:1 O:1
Jemile Weeks grounds out, second baseman Danny Worth to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Cliff Pennington pops out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Josh Reddick singles on a ground ball to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Kila Ka'aihue doubles (6) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson. Josh Reddick scores.
TIED 1 - 1

B:4 S:0 O:2
Seth Smith walks.

B:0 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ryan Raburn. Kila Ka'aihue scores. Seth Smith to 2nd.
OAK 2 - 1

B:1 S:0 O:3
Daric Barton pops out to first baseman Prince Fielder in foul territory.

OAK 2 - 1 AFTER 1 INNING

DET - Top 2nd
B:0 S:0 O:1
Delmon Young grounds out to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Jhonny Peralta grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton.


OAK - Bot 2nd
B:0 S:1 O:1
Kurt Suzuki lines out to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Collin Cowgill singles on a ground ball to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Jemile Weeks flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Cliff Pennington out swinging.

OAK 2 - 1 AFTER 2 INNINGS

DET - Top 3rd
B:0 S:1 O:0
Gerald Laird reaches on fielding error by third baseman Brandon Inge.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Danny Worth singles on a line drive to center fielder Collin Cowgill. Gerald Laird to 2nd.

B:3 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Josh Reddick. Gerald Laird to 3rd.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Andy Dirks pops out to third baseman Brandon Inge in foul territory.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Miguel Cabrera singles on a ground ball to right fielder Josh Reddick. Gerald Laird scores. Danny Worth to 2nd.
TIED 2 - 2

B:1 S:0 O:3
Prince Fielder flies out to center fielder Collin Cowgill.


OAK - Bot 3rd
B:3 S:2 O:0
Josh Reddick homers (7) on a line drive to right center field.
OAK 3 - 2

B:1 S:1 O:0
Kila Ka'aihue doubles (7) on a line drive to center fielder Austin Jackson, deflected by right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:0 S:1 O:0
Seth Smith doubles (2) on a fly ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Kila Ka'aihue scores.
OAK 4 - 2

Coaching visit to mound.

B:0 S:2 O:1
Brandon Inge grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:3 S:3 O:2
Daric Barton called out on .

B:0 S:1 O:3
Kurt Suzuki grounds out, third baseman Miguel Cabrera to first baseman Prince Fielder.

OAK 4 - 2 AFTER 3 INNINGS

DET - Top 4th
B:0 S:2 O:1
Delmon Young flies out to left fielder Seth Smith.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Ryan Raburn grounds out, shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Jhonny Peralta walks.

B:0 S:2 O:2
Gerald Laird singles on a line drive to right fielder Josh Reddick. Jhonny Peralta to 2nd.

B:0 S:1 O:3
Danny Worth flies out to left fielder Seth Smith.


OAK - Bot 4th
B:2 S:1 O:1
Collin Cowgill grounds out, second baseman Danny Worth to first baseman Prince Fielder.

B:2 S:2 O:2
Jemile Weeks grounds out, first baseman Prince Fielder to pitcher Rick Porcello.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Cliff Pennington singles on a soft line drive to left fielder Andy Dirks.

With Josh Reddick batting, passed ball by Gerald Laird, Cliff Pennington to 2nd.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Josh Reddick walks.

With Kila Ka'aihue batting, Cliff Pennington steals (7) 3rd base. Josh Reddick steals (4) 2nd base.

B:3 S:3 O:3
Kila Ka'aihue out swinging.

OAK 4 - 2 AFTER 4 INNINGS

DET - Top 5th
B:3 S:2 O:1
Austin Jackson lines out to center fielder Collin Cowgill.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Andy Dirks grounds out, second baseman Jemile Weeks to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:2 S:3 O:3
Miguel Cabrera out swinging.


OAK - Bot 5th
B:2 S:0 O:0
Seth Smith singles on a ground ball to right fielder Ryan Raburn.

B:1 S:2 O:1
Brandon Inge lines out to shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Daric Barton flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Kurt Suzuki walks. Seth Smith to 2nd.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Collin Cowgill out swinging.

OAK 4 - 2 AFTER 5 INNINGS

DET - Top 6th
B:0 S:3 O:1
Prince Fielder out swinging.

B:0 S:3 O:2
Delmon Young out swinging, catcher Kurt Suzuki to first baseman Daric Barton.

B:0 S:0 O:3
Ryan Raburn lines out to right fielder Josh Reddick.


OAK - Bot 6th
Pitcher Change: Duane Below replaces Rick Porcello.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Jemile Weeks walks.

With Cliff Pennington batting, Jemile Weeks steals (9) 2nd base.

B:0 S:3 O:1
Cliff Pennington out swinging.

B:0 S:1 O:1
Josh Reddick singles on a ground ball to center fielder Austin Jackson. Jemile Weeks scores.
OAK 5 - 2

B:0 S:1 O:2
Kila Ka'aihue flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:2
Seth Smith singles on a fly ball to left fielder Andy Dirks. Josh Reddick to 2nd.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge homers (5) on a fly ball to left center field. Josh Reddick scores. Seth Smith scores.
OAK 8 - 2

B:2 S:3 O:3
Daric Barton called out on .

OAK 8 - 2 AFTER 6 INNINGS

TIGERS

DET - Top 7th
B:3 S:3 O:1
Jhonny Peralta out swinging.

B:2 S:0 O:2
Gerald Laird flies out to center fielder Collin Cowgill.

B:1 S:3 O:3
Danny Worth called out on .


OAK - Bot 7th
Pitcher Change: Collin Balester replaces Duane Below.

B:0 S:0 O:1
Kurt Suzuki flies out to left fielder Andy Dirks.

B:1 S:3 O:2
Collin Cowgill out swinging.

B:4 S:0 O:2
Jemile Weeks walks.

B:4 S:2 O:2
Cliff Pennington walks. Jemile Weeks to 2nd.

B:0 S:0 O:2
Josh Reddick homers (8) on a fly ball to right field. Jemile Weeks scores. Cliff Pennington scores.
OAK 11 - 2

B:2 S:3 O:3
Kila Ka'aihue called out on .

OAK 11 - 2 AFTER 7 INNINGS

DET - Top 8th
Pitcher Change: Andrew Carignan replaces Tommy Milone.

B:4 S:1 O:0
Austin Jackson walks.

B:4 S:2 O:0
Andy Dirks walks. Austin Jackson to 2nd.

Coaching visit to mound.

B:2 S:1 O:0
Miguel Cabrera singles on a sharp ground ball to center fielder Collin Cowgill. Austin Jackson scores. Andy Dirks to 2nd.
OAK 11 - 3

B:2 S:0 O:2
Prince Fielder grounds into double play, shortstop Cliff Pennington to second baseman Jemile Weeks to first baseman Daric Barton. Andy Dirks to 3rd. Miguel Cabrera out at 2nd.

B:3 S:1 O:2
Delmon Young singles on a ground ball to center fielder Collin Cowgill. Andy Dirks scores.
OAK 11 - 4

B:3 S:3 O:3
Ryan Raburn strikes out swinging.


OAK - Bot 8th
Pitcher Change: Luke Putkonen replaces Collin Balester.

B:2 S:0 O:1
Seth Smith flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:2 S:1 O:2
Brandon Inge flies out to center fielder Austin Jackson.

B:1 S:1 O:3
Daric Barton grounds out to first baseman Prince Fielder.

OAK 11 - 4 AFTER 8 INNINGS

DET - Top 9th
Pitcher Change: Jerry Blevins replaces Andrew Carignan.

B:0 S:0 O:0
Jhonny Peralta singles on a fly ball to center fielder Collin Cowgill.

B:1 S:0 O:2
Gerald Laird grounds into double play, second baseman Jemile Weeks to shortstop Cliff Pennington to first baseman Daric Barton. Jhonny Peralta out at 2nd.

B:4 S:1 O:2
Danny Worth walks.

B:2 S:2 O:3
Austin Jackson flies out to right fielder Josh Reddick.

DET LOSES 4 - 11

CLICK HERE FOR BOX SCORE

Game Over R H E

Tigers	4	8	0
Athletics	11	13	1

WP: Milone (5-2, 3.92)
LP: Porcello (3-3, 5.18)

Game Info



Pitches-strikes: Porcello 100-62, Below 24-15, Balester 22-11, Putkonen 10-5, Milone 98-67, Carignan 31-13, Blevins 13-6.
Groundouts-flyouts: Porcello 5-2, Below 0-1, Balester 0-1, Putkonen 1-2, Milone 7-5, Carignan 1-0, Blevins 1-1.
Batters faced: Porcello 27, Below 7, Balester 6, Putkonen 3, Milone 27, Carignan 6, Blevins 4.
Umpires: HP: Paul Schrieber. 1B: Tim Welke. 2B: Laz Diaz. 3B: Mike Everitt.
Weather: 65 degrees, clear.
Wind: 4 mph, L to R.
T: 2:48.
Att: 26,721.