Tigers pitching falters as Athletics defeat Tigers, 7-5

Hideki Matsui hit his 500th professional homer and drove in three runs to lead the Oakland Athletics over the Detroit Tigers, 7-5.



Matsui led off the sixth inning with his milestone homer—168 in the majors and 332 for the Yomiuri Giants—to put Oakland up 3-2 and end Duane Below’s night. Below, making his major-league debut, allowed three runs—one earned— in five-plus innings.

Magglio Ordonez and Miguel Cabrera led off with singles off McCarthy, and Victor Martinez followed with a two-run double off reliever Joey Devine (1-1).

Tigers reliever David Purcey (1-2), though, walked the first three batters of the seventh before giving way to Joaquin Benoit.

Cliff Pennington singled to make it 5-4, and Josh Willingham’s sacrifice fly tied the game. Matsui and Conor Jackson then hit RBI singles to give Oakland a 7-5 lead.


POSTGAME INTERVIEWS

Tigers manager Jim Leyland

Tigers 3rd baseman Brandon Inge

Athletics designated hitter Hideki Matsui