Inge Continues To Be Thorn In Side Of Tiger Fans
OAKLAND (WWJ/CBS) - While it might be a stretch to say that the Detroit and Oakland match-up was highly anticipated - eyes were on Brandon Inge just to see what he'd do at the plate.
Inge, who started with the Tigers in 2001 and was released by them April 26, is 5 for 15 with three homers and 12 RBIs in his last four games.
Batting .179 Inge stepped up to the plate against the Tigers Thursday night and for the second time this week the Oakland A's infielder hit a grand slam.
Inge took Detroit reliever Collin Balester deep in the eighth inning, trying to rally the troops. It was the first time an A's player hit two grand slams in three games since 1932 when Jimmie Fox did it. Inge got the better of his old team and almost staged the comeback, but the A's fell to the Tigers, 10-6. Inge went 1 for 4 on the day with a strikeout to go with his grand slam.
The Tigers' Rick Porcello takes the mound against the A's Friday night and will try to control the ex-Tigers Inge. Porcello is 2-4 with a 4.39 ERA in seven starts against the A's, including 0-3 with a 5.56 ERA in four at Oakland.
"It's been pretty impressive," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "He's been coming up in big situations. It's very welcome."
