OAKLAND — Remember when everyone thought the A's needed to add a starting pitcher at the trade deadline? Well, it turns out the current starting rotation can get the job done just fine.
Edwin Jackson delivered the latest strong outing, allowing just an unearned run in 6 1/3 innings as the A's beat the Tigers, 2-1. Jackson improved to 3-2 and lowered his ERA to 2.87 in eight starts with Oakland this season.
“[Catcher Jonathan] Lucroy did a great job behind home plate,” Jackson told reporters after the game. “We were in sync and together the whole game.”
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“I think he's really comfortable here,” A's manager Bob Melvin added. “Certainly for a guy who's been around as long as he has, he's inspired by being in a race like this, and he enjoys the group. I think that's part of what you're seeing out there. On top of that, he mixes his pitches really well. He and [Lucroy] worked really well again. ... He's been terrific.”
During their current five-game winning streak, A's starters have pitched 31 innings and allowed just three earned runs. That's an ERA of 0.87.
“It's been important,” Melvin said of his starters' success. “We're going to come up on a stretch that's 20 (games) in a row. That's the time when you really need to lean on your starters to give you a few more innings, and they're starting to do that.”
“There's something special in this clubhouse,” Jackson explained. “The chemistry is something you can't teach. That has to happen on its own. When I came, I just wanted to gel in and be a part of what's going on.”
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The winning streak began Monday, when Jackson beat Toronto for his 100th career win. Trevor Cahill followed up with a quality start, allowing two runs in six innings. Sean Manaea finished off the sweep of the Blue Jays, surrendering just one run in six frames. Friday night, Brett Anderson had his best start of the season, tossing seven shutout innings against the Tigers. And Saturday, Jackson brought it full circle with career win number 101.
Here's a crazy stat to think about: Oakland has scored just three runs in 22 innings against the Tigers this series, and they've won both games behind starting pitchers who weren't even on the Opening Day roster. Cahill will try to make it 3-for-3 in Sunday's finale.