Profar slam powers blowout
Jurickson Profar celebrates after
DETROIT — Tired after a long trip, the A’s felt a little sluggish.
But once they hit Park, they turned sluggerish.
Jurickson Profar launched his first career grand slam and the A’s routed the Tigers 17-3 Thursday.
It was the straight victory Tigers.
The A’s had lost three straight and were 1-10 in their last 11 road games before romping.
They arrived A’s 13th over the in Comerica again Detroit after a 4-3 loss night in Seattle.
“We were really feeling wiped out this morning,” A’s catcher Josh Phegley said. “It really didn’t feel like we had an off day with a night game, a long flight and then a day game, but it almost gave us a chip on our shoulder out there.”
Phegley had four hits and drove in four runs. He had one of five home runs for the A’s, who won their ninth in a row at Comerica Park.
Phegley is hitting .295 with an .835 OPS this year.
“If you are looking for All-Star catchers this season, Tuesday I don’t know anyone more worthy than Josh,” manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s hitting close to .300 and he’s giving us homers and RBIs. You don’t see that from the nine spot very often.”
The Tigers have been outscored 41-9 while losing the first four games of a 10-game homestand.
“I’ve lost games like that before I’m sure I’ll lose them again,” Tigers second baseman Josh Harrison said. “This is a tough stretch, but you can’t get embarrassed. You just forget about it and try to win the next one.”
Brewers: Reigning NL MVP Christian Yelich hit his major league-leading 17th and 18th HRs to help Zach Davies and the Brewers beat the Phillies 11-3 in Philadelphia. Yasmani Grandal and Mike Moustakas also went deep as the Brewers won their third in a row. Davies (5-0) allowed three runs — one earned — and four hits in six innings. Yelich homered in the first for a 1-0 lead off Zach Eflin (5-4) and added a solo drive off Edgar Garcia in the eighth to make it 8-3.
Rangers: Rougned Odor homered twice as the Rangers rolled to a 16-1 victory over the Royals in Kansas City, Mo. Joey Gallo had a HR among his four hits and Willie Calhoun and Hunter Pence also homered. Royals manager Ned Yost used utility man Chris Owings on the mound the last two innings. Lance Lynn (5-3) allowed just one run and six hits in seven innings. Homer Bailey (4-4) gave up six runs — five earned — eight hits and four walks in 41⁄3 innings.
Nationals, Mets: Gerardo Parra hit a tiebreaking, two-run HR in the fifth and Sean Doolittle stopped Mets’ ninth-inning rally by striking out Keon Broxton with the bases loaded for his seventh save as the Nationals beat the Mets 7-6 in Washington. The Nats won two of three against the Mets for their first series win since April 16-18 against the Giants. Mets OF Michael Conforto hit a tying, three-run HR in the third but left with a concussion in the fifth after colliding with 2B Robinson Cano’s shoulder while chasing a popup. Mets OF Jeff McNeil left in the third because of abdominal tightness. Dan Jennings (1-2) won in relief of RHP Anibal Sanchez, who left after 11⁄3 innings because of a strained left hamstring that will send him to the IL. Mets starter Zack Wheeler (3-3) allowed six runs and a career-high 11 hits in six innings.
Twins: RHP Addison Reed was designated for assignment. The move was necessary to fit RHP Austin Adams, who was recalled from Triple-A Rochester, on the team’s 40-man roster. RHP Trevor Hildenberger was sent to the minors in a corresponding move. Reed, 30, hasn’t pitched in the majors this season but has been rehabbing a sprained thumb on his left hand in the minors. He had struggled, posting a 14.40 ERA in five appearances. Reed signed a twoyear, $16.75 million contract with the Twins as a free agent in the 2018 offseason. He went 1-6 with a 4.50 ERA in 55 appearances with a career-worst strikeouts-per-nine-innings rate of 7.1 last season. Reed made 80 appearances for the Mets in 2016 and 77 for the Mets and Red Sox in 2017 and posted ERAs of 1.97 and 2.84.
Extra innings: The Mariners recalled OF Mallex Smith after two weeks with Triple-A Tacoma to work on his approach at the plate. Smith, 26, was sent down April 30 after hitting just .165 in 27 games. In his 10 games at Tacoma, Smith hit .333 with three doubles and a HR . ... The Rockies will recall INF Brendan Rodgers on Friday. ESPN ranked Rodgers, a 22-year-old infielder, the No. 28 prospect in MLB.