Blackburn, Rooker lead Athletics to 4-0 win over Tigers

DETROIT (AP) — Brent Rooker homered, Paul Blackburn pitched six sparkling innings and the Oakland Athletics earned their second win of the season, beating the Detroit Tigers 4-0 on Saturday.

Zack Gelof walked and scored three times as Oakland (2-7) ended a four-game losing streak.

Detroit only got two runners to second base in the first seven innings. The Tigers are off to a 6-2 start, but their lineup has been shaky so far.

Blackburn (1-0) continued his strong start to the season. The right-hander allowed three hits, struck out four and walked none.

Using a five-pitch repertoire, Blackburn has given up six hits and one walk in 13 scoreless innings this season.

Detroit's Kenta Maeda (0-1) allowed three runs on two hits and four walks in 5 1/3 innings.

Rooker gave the A's a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer off Maeda in the first.

Tigers manager A.J. Hinch brought Joey Wentz out of the bullpen with two out in the sixth and a runner on second, but Seth Brown made it 3-0 with an RBI single.

Oakland made it 4-0 in the eighth. Wentz departed with one out and Gelof on second, and Rooker blooped an RBI single over second base off Will Vest.

Detroit's Carson Kelly doubled off Mason Miller with one out in the eighth and Spencer Torkelson drew a two-out walk, marking the first time Detroit had two runners on base. But Kerry Carpenter grounded to first base.

UP NEXT

The teams finish the three-game series on Sunday afternoon. Oakland RHP Joe Boyle (0-1, 23.63 ERA) faces Detroit RHP Jack Flaherty (0-0, 1.50 ERA).

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