By Morris Phillips

So far in 2016, things have worked out for free agent-signee Rich Hill, and just the opposite for free agent-signee Mike Pelfrey. That pattern continued on Sunday as both starting pitchers crossed paths at the Coliseum in the A’s come-from-behind 4-2 win.

Staked to a 2-0 lead, and pitching as well as he had in any of his 10 previous starts for Detroit, Pelfrey saw things fall apart after he induced a double-play ground ball off the bat of Stephen Vogt, and appeared to be on his way to keeping the A’s at bay through the first six innings.

But Pelfrey gave up back-to-back singles to Danny Valencia and Khris Davis, then saw normally sure-handed Ian Kinsler boot a potential inning-ending ground ball off the bat of Yonder Alonso. That allowed Valencia to score from third, with the tying and go-ahead runs on base. Pelfrey then uncorked a wild pitch, allowing both runners to move up. Two pitches later—after issuing a walk to Marcus Semien, loading the bases—Pelfrey’s day was done.

“Pelfrey pitched well, and we were trying to him over the hump and let him pitch deep into the game,” Kinsler said of his gaffe. “To not come up with that, it hurts a little bit.”

“For some reason I’m having trouble getting through the sixth inning,” Pelfrey admitted. “That bugs me.”

Not as much as what happened next. Reliever Alex Wilson’s second pitch appeared to induce Billy Butler to deliver an inning-ending fly ball. But center fielder Cameron Maybin broke in on the ball, but saw it bound in front of his glove as he dove for the catch. That allowed two more runs to score, and suddenly the former Met and Twin was on the hook for the loss, despite not allowing an earned run.

Now 0-5, Pelfrey’s next start isn’t promised. Gifted a two-year, $16 million contract, the 6’7” right hander has failed to win any of his first 11 starts in Detroit. And he’s no Rich Hill, the A’s diamond signed to a one-year, $6 million deal that has now yielded eight wins in the same 11 starts. While Pelfrey’s trademark sinker hasn’t fooled anyone, Hill’s signature curve has shown real bite, putting him among the AL leaders in strikeouts after he fanned nine Tigers on Sunday.

And on Sunday the differences between the two were slight. While both allowed eight combined hits and walks, Hill was able to retire two more batters than Pelfrey, and was still standing when the afternoon caved in on Pelfrey and the Tigers in the sixth.

After walking the speedy Maybin to start the seventh, Hill recovered by striking out James McCann for the first out. But a balky groin that flared up earlier in the game cost Hill an opportunity to go further as a cautious Bob Melvin elected to remove his starter at that point. Reliever Ryan Dull came on to retire the two batters he faced, while also keeping Maybin rooted to first base.

Hill addressed the injury afterwards, saying he was fine, but with the A’s overpopulated as is on the disabled list, the concern persisted. Not only is Hill the A’s top performer thus far this season, he’s undoubtedly in line to make his first All-Star game appearance if continues to perform, and reaches double-digit wins prior to the break. Again, the 36-year old renaissance man insisted that he’s good going forward.

“It’s nothing significant,” Hill said. “Sleep on it, wake up, and I’ll be fine.”

The A’s captured the series with the Tigers, after dropping six of seven prior to Detroit’s arrival. The A’s are now 7 ½ games behind first place Texas in the AL West, and hoping a friendly, upcoming schedule will allow them to stay within striking distance of the Rangers and Mariners atop the division.

With all the injuries, the veteran leadership of the club—Ryan Madson, Josh Reddick and Coco Crisp—held a players-only meeting on Friday to insure the club maintains its focus through all the constant doings on the disabled list, which at one point numbered 12 players. The immediate response was good: Saturday’s offensive explosion and Sunday’s win in a closer, tense affair. Now, according to reliever Sean Doolittle, the club simply needs to back up those wins.

“With the injuries we’ve had, I think it would be somewhat foolish to start looking ahead,” Doolittle said, referring to a schedule that has the Twins, Brewers, Reds and Astros—all struggling—up next. “We need to play better at home, get more consistent.”

In Monday’s Memorial Day matinee, the A’s send Kendall Graveman to the mound, looking to end a personal, five-game losing streak. The resurgent Twins have Ervin Santana going, a pitcher who has beaten the A’s 15 times in 27 career starts.