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Michael Fulmer wins 3rd straight as Detroit Tigers top Oakland Athletics

By Eric Gilmore, The Sports Xchange
Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9). Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI
Detroit Tigers third baseman Nick Castellanos (9). Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI | License Photo

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Rookie right-hander Michael Fulmer pitched 7 2/3 shutout innings, Nick Castellanos hit his 10th home run of the season, and the Detroit Tigers defeated the Oakland A's 4-1 at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday night.

Fulmer (4-1) struck out three, walked one and threw 103 pitches in his sixth career major league start.

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Fulmer gave up a two-out single to Khris Davis in the second inning then held the A's hitless until the eighth when Chris Coghlan lined a two-out single to center. Coco Crisp followed with a ground-rule double, moving Coghlan to third and ending Fulmer's night.

Tigers left-hander Justin Wilson struck out pinch hitter Billy Butler to end the inning.

Castellanos went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in the fifth inning that extended Detroit's lead to 3-0.

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Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5 with a triple and a double. After singling in the ninth, he scored on J.D. Martinez' triple to make it 4-0.

Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez allowed a run in the ninth. He gave up a leadoff single to Stephen Vogt and an RBI triple to Jed Lowrie.

The Tigers won for the ninth time in their past 11 games, while the A's lost for the seventh time in their past eight games.

A's rookie left-hander Sean Manaea (1-3) gave up three runs on nine hits over six innings. He struck out four, walked two and threw 93 pitches in his sixth career major league start.

Fulmer, who came to Detroit from the New York Mets as part of a package for outfielder Yoenis Cespedes last July, won his third straight game.

In his previous start, Fulmer struck out 11 and allowed one run on four hits over seven innings in a 5-4 victory against Tampa Bay.

Manaea pitched out of trouble in the second and third innings, but Detroit scored two runs in the fourth to take a 2-0 lead.

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Justin Upton lined an opposite-field single to right with two outs. Cameron Maybin brought Upton home with an opposite-field double down the right-field line that extended his hitting streak to 10 games.

James McCann blooped an RBI single to right, scoring Maybin.

NOTES: Tigers bench coach Gene Lamont filled in for manager Brad Ausmus for the second straight game. Ausmus missed Wednesday's contest against Philadelphia to be with his family in Connecticut after his mother's death. He was in San Diego on Friday to attend the high school graduation of his oldest daughter. Lamont said Ausmus is expected to rejoin the team for Saturday's game against Oakland. ... Tigers LF Justin Upton returned to the starting lineup Friday after missing three games with a sore right quadriceps, and 2B Ian Kinsler returned after missing two games with an illness. ... Athletics C Josh Phegley (strained right knee) was reinstated from the 15-day disabled list Friday. ... Oakland C Matt McBride was sent to Triple-A Nashville, opening a spot for Phegley on the 25-man roster. ... Tigers LHP Matt Boyd will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo and start against Oakland on Saturday in place of RHP Jordan Zimmermann (strained right groin). The Tigers hope Zimmermann can rejoin the rotation Tuesday against the Angels. He'll throw a bullpen session Saturday. "Then we'll decide if he'll be able to make the start," Lamont said. "If he can't he'll probably have to go on the DL." ... A's RHP Sonny Gray (strained right trapezius) will throw his first bullpen session Saturday since going on the 15-day disabled list May 21.

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