The sun got in Victor Reyes’ eyes and plunged the Detroit Tigers into darkness.
Mitch Moreland hit a walk-off single with two out in the ninth as the Oakland A’s completed a four-game series sweep with a 3-2 win on Sunday.
Matt Olson reached with one out against Gregory Soto when Reyes, playing center field, lost the ball in the sun. It dropped in front of Reyes for a bloop double. With runners on first and second, Moreland slapped an opposite-field single that got past third baseman Jeimer Candelario.
Harold Castro ended the Tigers’ 23-inning scoreless streak with a two-out, two-run single in the sixth off A’s starter Chris Bassitt to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
Matthew Boyd gave up two runs in 7⅓ innings, including a tying solo homer to Sean Murphy in the eighth.
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Homer spoils Matthew Boyd’s strong start
Through the first seven innings, Boyd only got into trouble on back-to-back pitches in the fourth. Mark Canha ripped a fastball for a single and Ramon Laureano smacked a triple to center that bounced away from Reyes.
Those hits came with no outs and the heart of Oakland’s order coming up. Boyd responded by retiring Jed Lowrie on a popup, Olson on a strikeout and Matt Chapman on a grounder.
Boyd then cruised through the next three innings, with his only baserunner reaching on a hit-by-pitch when Boyd slipped on his delivery. He got Chapman waving at a fastball to finish off the seventh inning.
Boyd then gave up a homer for the first time this season when Murphy, leading off the bottom of the eighth, ripped a fastball over the left-center wall. He allowed two more hits in the eighth before Jose Cisnero struck out the final two batters.
Harold Castro makes amends
The scoreless streak could have ended in the first inning if not for a baserunning error.
The first two Tigers reached base and Willi Castro hit a bloop that dropped in front of Laureano in center. Robbie Grossman, the runner at second, made a bad read and by the time he scooted to third, Laureano was able to throw him out.
Wilson Ramos followed with a single to load the bases but Renato Nunez fouled off a hanging slider before popping out. Bassitt then struck out Harold Castro on three pitches.
Harold Castro redeemed himself four innings later when he ripped a cutter into right field to knock in Candelario and Willi Castro.
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Akil Baddoo’s plate struggles continue
Manager AJ Hinch gave rookie sensation Akil Baddoo a day off Saturday after Baddoo struck out six times in seven at-bats during the first two games of the series.
The breather didn’t get his bat going again. Baddoo went 0-for-4, including two more strikeouts. He went down on three pitches in his first at-bat, frozen by a Bassitt cutter on the third strike.
Baddoo fouled out to third on a changeup in his second at-bat.
Facing reliever Jake Diekman, Baddoo couldn’t hold up his swing on a 2-2 fastball.
In the ninth against Lou Trivino, Baddoo grounded out with a runner on second.
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