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DETROIT -- The A's suffered their third consecutive loss and lost a third member of their starting rotation on Wednesday when Brett Anderson left the game with a right oblique strain. The Tigers plated three runs against Anderson and three more against the bullpen to defeat the A's 6-2. Starting Pitching ReportAnderson was removed from the game in the third inning after throwing 48 pitches. On his final pitch, he fell forward during his follow-through, but popped back up and watched as the ball hit by Delmon Young went foul. Anderson was visited on the mound by trainer Nick Paparesta, manager Bob Melvin, and catcher Derek Norris before leaving the game.Anderson allowed back-to-back bunt singles down the first base line to start the inning. It looked like the Tigers were exploiting the way Anderson finishes his pitches and comes off the mound with his momentum taking him toward third base. Anderson appeared to be stretching out his back before the fall occurred. He left the game with two earned runs, one out, and a 2-2 count. One of the runners he left on came around to score.Anderson would have been on turn to make three more starts this season. Travis Blackley could take his place in the rotation. The Australian-born pitcher is 4-3 with a 3.97 ERA in 12 starts this season. At the PlateBefore the game A's manager Bob Melvin said he put Daric Barton in the starting lineup because he is a left-handed hitter and he wanted to change it up. The decision paid immediate dividends as Barton singled in his first at-bat, and walked in his second trip to the plate. He ended up 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout.The A's were able to get two runners on base each of the first three innings against Verlander, and had one runner reach in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. They couldn't push home any runs, but were able to elevate Verlander's pitch count. He left the game with 122 pitches in six innings of work. The A's squandered a chance to rally in the first inning when Seth Smith overran second base and was caught in a rundown after a Yoenis Cespedes single. The ball hit up the middle by Cespedes was stopped by the shortstop and it appeared Smith thought it made its way into the outfield. The A's had trouble getting done against the Detroit bullpen. Smith hit a leadoff double in the eighth inning but he ended up stranded there. In the ninth inning the A's rallied with two outs against closer Jose Valverde. Norris reached base with and took second base on defensive indifference. He then scored on a Cliff Pennington single to right field. Pennington advanced to second base on defensive indifference again then came home to when Stephen Drew hit a single. Bullpen ReportPat Neshek entered in relief of Anderson with the bases loaded, one out and a 2-2 count on Young. The Tigers' outfielder hit a sac fly to center field making it a 3-0 game. Neshek retired Jhonny Peralta to end the inning. The veteran righty reliever pitched a scoreless fourth inning as well. Jim Miller entered the game in the fifth inning. He retired Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder but gave up a double to Young and an RBI single to Peralta to make it 4-0. He remained in the game to pitch a scoreless sixth inning, but gave up a homer to Cabrera in the seventh inning on a shoulder-high fastball. Cabrera now has 41 home runs this season.Pedro Figueroa entered the game in the eighth inning and the Tigers loaded the bases. He managed to pitch out of it with only one run scoring. He struck out Cabrera to end the inning with two runners on. In the FieldBarton did his patented splits to complete a fine defensive play by Drew who ranged all the way to his right to snag a tough grounder. Josh Donaldson made a nice snag in the seventh inning to rob a double off the bat of Peralta. He ranged right and snagged the sharp ground ball at the foul line and threw across the diamond to make the out.AttendanceThe Tigers announced an attendance of 29,734. Up NextTommy Milone (13-10, 3.81 ERA) takes the mound for the A's in the series finale in Detroit. He will be opposed by right-handed pitcher Anibal Sanchez (3-5, 4.19 ERA). Milone set an Oakland record with for wins by a rookie pitcher with his 13th victory in his last start. He has won his last two starts. Sanchez was traded to the Tigers from the Marlins this season. He has allowed three runs or less in his last five starts.
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