OAKLAND, Calif., April 15 (UPI) -- Phil Coke and two relievers combined on a three-hit shutout Thursday and the Detroit Tigers handcuffed Oakland 3-0.
Coke (1-2) limited the Athletics to three hits in seven innings, walking two and fanning two while allowing only one runner to get as far as third base.
Joaquin Benoit hurled a scoreless eighth inning and Jose Valverde struck out two in a 1-2-3 ninth to notch his third save for Detroit, which racked up its third straight win.
Ryan Rayburn smacked an RBI double in the seventh inning off reliever Tyson Ross (1-1) to break up a scoreless pitcher's duel.
Ramon Santiago added two hits and drove in a run for the Tigers, who took the first of a four-game series in Oakland.
A's starter Gio Gonzalez tossed six shutout innings, yielding only two hits while walking six and striking out six in a no-decision.
