DETROIT -- Tim Birtsas grew up with a dream of playing in Tiger Stadium.
The 6-foot-7 pitcher attained that dream Thursday, but in a way he never thought of.
Birtsas, wearing an Oakland uniform, pitched 5 1-3 innings in his second start of the season, giving up three runs on four hits as the A's dropped a 3-2 decision to the Detroit Tigers.
'From the time when I was seven years old, I used to dream of playing with the Tigers,' Birtsas said. 'It was a neat experience today. I always wanted to play in Tiger Stadium for many years. I just always thought it'd be in the other uniform.'
Birtsas expected a better response from the Tiger Stadium crowd. Afterall, he played baseball at Michigan State and grew up in nearby Clarkston. However, after hitting Kirk Gibson -- his hometown friend and former fellow Spartan -- in the mouth with a pitch during the third inning that sent the Tigers outfielder to Henry Ford Hospital where he received a total of 17 stitches on his upper and lower lips, the fans turned on Birtsas.
'I just missed with the pitch,' Birtsas said. 'I was trying to bust him inside and the ball took off. It was not meant to happen, but it did. The bases were loaded and the last thing I wanted to do was walk him. I can understand everyone being upset. He's their hero.'
Despite the beaning and the loss, A's manager Jackie Moore announced after the game that the rookie southpaw was being added to the starting rotation permanently.
'Overall, he pitched very well,' Moore said. 'This was his second outing for us and I know that before it's over with, he's going to give us a lot of help.
'We felt from the first day he showed up at spring training that the kid had a lot of ability. We just didn't know when he was going to produce. He's a youngster that has a great feel for pitching.'
Oakland acquired Birtsas along with Jay Howell, Jose Rijo, Eric Plunk and Stan Javier in the off-season trade that sent outfielder Rickey Henderson to the New York Yankees. New York originally drafted Birtsas in the second round of the 1982 draft.
'I have mixed emotions about that,' Birtsas said of the trade. 'I feel like the Yankees had plans for me. When I went to winter ball and was traded, I was a little disappointed at first because I wanted to play with the Yankees. But then I felt that Oakland wouldn't have made a deal for me if they didn't have plans for me.
'I know (Yankees owner) Mr. (George) Steinbrenner would give up anything to get Rickey Henderson. But I think the trade is going to sway in favor of the A's in the next year.'
Birtsas has a 1-1 record in six games with a 3.50 ERA, second lowest on the team.
'I've got to concentrate on throwing strikes -- that's the key for me,' Birtsassaid. 'If I walk people, I'm going to be in trouble.
'Today, I just had a tendency to get behind in the count too often and it caught up with me. I had good velocity, but I was having problems getting my breaking ball over the plate. It was like a bad dream.
'I guess today you could call my dream day. I waited a long time for this.'
