Detroit slides past Oakland

Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez each knocked in a pair of runs and the Detroit Tigers held on this time to record a 5-4 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

One night after serving up a game-ending three-run homer to Josh Donaldson in Wednesday's matchup between the teams, Tigers closer Joe Nathan was scored on twice more in the ninth inning in this one. The struggling veteran was able to retire Jed Lowrie with the winning run aboard, however, to close out Rick Porcello's eighth win of the season.

Porcello (8-2) held Oakland to two runs despite issuing six walks in 5 2/3 innings, but the Athletics went 2-for-14 with men in scoring position and stranded 14 baserunners to fall for the sixth time in eight games.

Martinez finished 2-for-4 and Ian Kinsler also had two hits, including an RBI double, along with two runs scored to help Detroit earn a split of the four- game series and avenge Wednesday's result.

Nick Punto had a two-run homer earlier for Oakland, while starter Jesse Chavez (4-3) was reached for three runs and eight hits over six innings.

[SportsNetwork.com]