Tigers Down A's In Slug-Fest

What could've been their most devastating loss in a season of many turned into a satisfying win for the Detroit Tigers.

Tony Clark hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning as the Tigers, who blew an early six-run lead, rallied to beat the Oakland Athletics 13-11 Monday night.

"This would've been a tough loss," said Dean Palmer, who hit his 20th homer to help the Tigers to a 9-3 lead in the third inning.

Oakland rebounded to go ahead 10-9 in the fifth before Detroit finally went ahead for good.

Clark, who also doubled twice, didn't even want to think what a loss would have meant. The win, which gave the Tigers a split of the four-game series, came a day after manager Larry Parrish appointed Palmer, reliever Doug Brocail and catcher Brad Ausmus as tri-captains in an attempt to motivate the team.

All three made major contributions: Ausmus had a two-out infield single to start the winning rally, Palmer walked ahead of Clark's homer and Brocail (2-2) pitched a scoreless eighth for the win, just the Tigers' second in seven games.

Ausmus' hit was the Tigers' first since a six-run third. Juan Encarnacion's double off Brad Rigby (3-2) scored the tying run, then Doug Jones walked Palmer and Clark homered into the right-field upper deck for a 13-10 lead.

"There wasn't a lot of pressure on me," Clark said. "The pressure was on Juan to come up with that big two-base knock. Dean had a great at-bat to draw the walk and give me a chance."

Todd Jones allowed Jason Giambi's second homer of the game and 14th of the season in the ninth, but finished for his 11th save.

"Things happen so quickly in this league," A's manager Art Howe said. "One pitch changed the whole complexion of the game."

Oakland starter Gil Heredia was pounded for eight runs seven earned and nine hits in 2 1-3 innings.
"It's just frustrating to pitch only two innings and not really be effective, but it happens," said Heredia, 0-3 in seven starts since his last win May 12 at Detroit.

Detroit's Dave Mlicki gave up nine runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings.

John Jaha, who hit five home runs in the first three games of the series, had a two-run double in the first, but Detroit went ahead 3-2 in the bottom half on Luis Polonia's leadoff triple, Ausmus' single and Palmer's homer.

Grieve just missed clearing the right-field roof with a two-out solo homer that tied the score in the third. The drive hit the base of a light tower and caromed back on the the field.

Detroit scored six times in the bottom half. Gabe Kapler singled in a run, Deivi Cruz chased Heredia with a two-run single and Brett Laxton, making his major league debut, made a pair of run-scoring wild pitches and walked two, setting up Encarnacion's sacrifice fly.

Tony Phillips hit a two-run double and Miguel Tejada had an RBI groundout as Oakland pulled to 9-6 in the fourth, and Giambi's two-run homer made it 9-8 in the fifth, chasing Mlicki. Chavez greeted Willie Blair with a go-ahead, two-run homer.

"The way we were swinging the bats early on against Mlicki, I thought we were going to get some more off of him and get back in it, and we did," Howe said. "I was proud of the way we battled. We were in position to win the game."

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