The Detroit Tigers were unable to pull off a three-game sweep of Oakland on Thursday, as the visiting Athletics left Comerica Park with a comfortable 12-4 victory in the series finale.
Tigers right-hander Anibal Sanchez fanned eight batters over five and 2/3 innings of work, but was roughed up for four runs in the sixth before being pulled from the mound. Sanchez fell to 8-13 on the season with the loss, and is now just 3-6 through 10 starts since joining the Tigers' rotation at the trade deadline.
Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera still managed to maintain his Triple Crown pursuit with a 1-for-4 performance from the plate to move his season average to .333, but was unable to homer for the third consecutive game. Outfielder Andy Dirks provided the biggest hit of the game with a solo blast into the bleachers in right, but the Tigers could not mount a comeback late after reliever Octavio Dotel alone was shelled for four runs in the ninth.
Next up for Jim Leyland's team is a three-game weekend series with the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Rick Porcello will take the hill in search of his 10th win of the season on Friday in Game 1.
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