Jeffrey Springs #59 of the Athletics pitches against the Detroit Tigers in the top of the first inning at Sutter Health Park on July 31, 2026 in Sacramento, California. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After losing three of four games to the Boston Red Sox during the past week at Sutter Health Park, the A’s welcomed the Detroit Tigers to town for game one of a three-game series on Friday night.

The A’s fell to the Tigers on Friday night by a final of 13-1 in an ugly showing all the way around.

It was Jeffrey Springs who got the start for the series opener on Friday night. Springs, who is in his ninth season in the majors, is having the worst year of his career. Heading into Friday’s action, Springs led the league in losses (10), earned runs (72), and home runs allowed (27). In the series opener, Springs struggled with his command yet again as he was only able to get through four innings against the Tigers lineup. Across his four innings, Springs gave up two runs on four hits while walking a massive five batters and striking out just two. Springs managed to limit the damage, but it was certainly another underwhelming outing for the left-hander out of Appalachian State University in his 22nd start for the A’s this season.

“…Probably some fatigue and lack of strength in that front side led to a little bit of a lack of command tonight,” Mark Kotsay said of Jeffrey Springs after the game. “…Overall managing to get out of that fourth inning with only giving up one run and the pitch count was really high… he worked really hard for four innings… it shows some grit.”

The A’s bullpen had to cover five innings on Friday night after Springs was lifted following the fourth inning, and it pitched well until the eighth inning.

Hayden Juenger was first out of the bullpen for the A’s as he pitched the fifth inning. Juenger was effective, allowing just a walk and nothing else while also striking out two in his one inning of relief.

Brady Basso was next out of the bullpen for the A’s as he came in for the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings. Basso allowed just one hit and no runs in the sixth and seventh innings as it appeared he was going to cruise through three innings of relief. However, Basso ran into trouble in the eighth inning and was unable to record an out as he faced three batters and they all reached base. In the end, Basso went 2+ innings and gave up three runs on four hits while walking none and striking out two.

Unfortunately for the A’s, the implosion from the bullpen didn’t end with Basso. Mark Kotsay turned to Luis Morales for the rest of the eighth inning, and it went poorly, to say the least. Morales surrendered a grand slam in the inning to allow the Tigers to blow the game wide open. It also didn’t stop at that point for the Tigers. Morales was back out in the ninth inning, where he surrendered another four runs in a completely ineffective outing. When the dust settled, Morales went two innings of eight-run, six-hit baseball while walking one and striking out one.

As for the bullpen, Kotsay only has so much left to say. It needs to improve. On Morales specifically, the A’s are looking to go back to square one.

“We’re going to have to go back to the drawing board with Morales, and we’ve identified some things that he’s doing… he may be tipping his pitches, but at the same point, he still has to execute the pitches. Even though you throw 97, it’s got to be executed. It can’t be in the middle of the plate. So there’s still a lot for Morales to do from a standpoint of just making adjustments.”

On the offensive side of the ball, the A’s struggled to get things going against the Tigers’ bullpen game after the Casey Mize scratch earlier in the day. The A’s totaled just three hits and one run while walking three times against Detroit pitching over nine innings.

The A’s first and only run came in the first inning to help them jump out to an early lead. It was the red-hot Jonah Heim who stayed hot on Friday as he drilled an RBI double to center field that scored Jacob Wilson. It was Heim’s 12th double of the season and his 35th RBI.

That’s all she wrote on the offensive side for the A’s as they fell 13-1.

The A’s will take on the Tigers in game two of the series on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. PDT. Jack Perkins (2-4, 6.45 ERA) is scheduled to start for the A’s, while the Tigers will counter with Framber Valdez (5-7, 4.53 ERA).

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.