Zack Gelof delivers as Oakland A’s cruise past Detroit Tigers 7-1

By Dana Gauruder and Associated Press

DETROIT — Zack Gelof had four hits, including a three-run homer, and drove in four runs to help the Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 7-1 on Sunday.

Gelof had an RBI triple in the first and scored on JJ Bleday’s single. He hit his first home run of the season in the second against Jack Flaherty. He also had two singles.

“For me, it’s just about choosing the right tone and not making the situation worse,” Gelof said. “Just go out there and control what I can control and the results take care of themselves.”

Gelof drew three walks and scored three runs in the A’s 4-0 win Saturday. Manager Mark Kotsay thought that prepared his No. 2 hitter for a big day at the plate.

“We talked about it before the game and we really felt like yesterday his plate discipline was going to get him going,” Kotsay said. “It was a great result today with all his at-bats. He is working in the right direction at the moment.

Abraham Toro had two hits, scored twice and scored a run for Oakland, which collected two wins in the three-game series.

Oakland starter Joe Boyle (1-1) struck out six while pitching five scoreless innings with two-hit ball. Boyle recorded two of his three career wins against the Tigers.

Riley Greene hit his third home run for Detroit in the eighth inning. Flaherty (0-1) was charged with six runs and nine hits in six innings.

The Tigers were held to one point in the final two games of the series after winning their home opener, 5-4, on Friday.

“There’s always frustration when you don’t win a series when you’re in a position to do so,” Tigers manager AJ Hinch said. “They batted a lot better than us.”

Flaherty made his Tigers debut last weekend, allowing one run in six innings against the Chicago White Sox. He allowed two runs on his first eight pitches Sunday.

The A’s made it 6-0 in the fourth when Toro hit Ryan Noda with an infield single.

Greene ended the Tigers’ 16-inning scoreless drought with his drive to right center against Kyle Muller.

Seth Brown drove in Gelof for the Athletics’ final run with a single in the ninth inning. Gelof hit a single to center in his last at-bat and considered trying to stretch it into a double and complete the cycle.

“I thought I had a chance because usually they play me towards right center,” he said. “I thought it could have been a great double, but I feel like (center fielder) Parker (Meadows) had the idea that I needed a double.”

Oakland outfielder Brent Rooker left in the fourth with abdominal pain.