Zach Logue pitches gem in 2nd start, A's pound Tigers

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Zach Logue pitched seven sharp innings in his second major league start and the Oakland Athletics spoiled the debut of Joey Wentz by thumping the floundering Detroit Tigers 9-0 on Wednesday night.

Sean Murphy and Kevin Smith each drove in two while Christian Bethancourt supplied three hits, two runs scored and an RBI for the A's. Ramon Laureano reached base three times, scored two runs and drove in another.

Oakland, which entered Detroit on a nine-game losing streak, is 3-1 in the five-game series. The Tigers have lost eight of their last nine, scoring two runs or less in each of those defeats.

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Oakland Athletics pitcher Zach Logue throws against the Detroit Tigers in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit, Wednesday, May 11, 2022.  (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Logue (2-1), making his third career appearance, held Detroit to five hits, walked none and struck out six.

"Zach did a great job of keeping hitters off balance," A's manager Mark Kotsay said. "He's not afraid to come in (with his fastball) and open up the breaking ball on the back side. It's a good mix for him. He's got a quick arm."

Logue is far from overpowering — his fastball clocks in the low 90s on the radar gun — but he tries to take a fearless approach.

"I know I don't have 95 in the tank or anything like that, but I'm going to come after you and try to throw strikes," he said. "For me to have success, I need to work it in and out. Sometimes that's brushing guys off the plate and throwing inside. That's my mentality, just trying to be attack and get ahead, however I can."

The A's battered Wentz for six runs on seven hits in