DETROIT (AP) — Ryan Noda had an RBI single in the 10th inning as the MLB-worst Oakland Athletics edged the Detroit Tigers 1-0 Tuesday night after being no-hit into the seventh inning.
Jace Peterson bunted pinch-runner Tyler Wade to third to start the 10th. Tyler Horton (0-1) struck out Shea Langeliers for the second out before Noda slapped a single to left — one of just two hits for Oakland in the game — to break the scoreless struggle.
“J.P. (Sears) had a great start for us, and we were just trying to feed off that,” Nola said. “We wanted to reward the pitchers for what they did tonight.”
Shintaro Fujinami (5-7) got the win after striking out the side in the ninth. Trevor May pitched a scoreless 10th for his sixth save.
The Athletics were the last team in baseball to record a shutout.
The Tigers had runners on first and third with one out in the eighth. Lucas Erceg struck out Spencer Torkelson, and after Kerry Carpenter drew a pinch-hit walk to load the bases, Javier Báez took a called third strike, ending the threat.
“I think there were seven at-bats that could have changed the game, and we got two walks,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “I hate this loss, because we pitched so well and we had every chance to win the game.”
Tarik Skubal, Detroit's best starter in 2022, pitched four hitless innings in his first start since Aug. 1 of last season. Skubal was sidelined for 10 months with an elbow strain before spending June making five rehab starts split between Class A and Triple-A.
“I'm healthy and it was fun to go out there and compete,” he said. “The goal was to come out of this feeling good and I do.”
Skubal retired the first 11 batters he faced, six on strikeouts, before hitting Brent Rooker with two out in the fourth. Aledmys Diaz grounded into a force at second to end the inning.
“I'll be honest — I expect Tarik to be a monster every time he goes out there,” Hinch said. “He pitches with so much fire and aggression, and we knew he was excited to be back out there, so it was impressive how well he commanded his pitches. We expect him to be great, though.”
JP Sears pitched 7 1/3 innings for Oakland, allowing five singles while striking out four.
“That's probably the best start we've had all year,” A's manager Mark Kotsay said. “He used all his weapons, and kept the ball away from the middle of the plate. He's a big part of this win.”
The game matched two of the worst offenses in baseball, and both struggled to create run-scoring opportunities.
Detroit had a runner in scoring position with one out in the second, but Sears struck out Eric Haase and got Zack Short to pop out.
The Athletics didn't get a hit until Langeliers had a clean single to right with two out in the seventh.
Reese Olson replaced Skubal after the fourth and pitched five scoreless innings, allowing only Langeliers' single.
“It was great to have (Skubal) back and see him pitch so well,” he said. “I just wanted to build off what he had done for five innings.”
ROSTER MOVE
To make room for Skubal on the active and 40-man rosters, the Tigers placed LHP Tyler Alexander (shoulder) on the 60-day injured list. After the game, they optioned RHP Garrett Hill to Triple-A Toledo to make room for LHP Eduardo Rodriguez.
NICE MOMENT
Miguel Cabrera singled in his first two at-bats against Sears, giving him 3,126 hits for his career. But he lined out to center in his third.
“He told me ‘nice pitch,’ and I just said 'finally,'” Sears said. “He's such a great hitter and such a good guy that it is fun to face him.”
UP NEXT
The teams continue their three-game series on Wednesday with Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-4, 2.13) making his first start since rupturing a pulley in his index finger on May 28. LHP Ken Waldichuk (1-5, 6.78) is scheduled to start for Oakland.
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