A's offense stumbles in 4-1 loss to Mariners

OAKLAND - Sean Manaea continues to feel more comfortable every time he takes the mound. He had another solid outing but the Athletics' offense was stymied and suffered yet another disappointing loss.

Manaea pitched six solid innings and Jed Lowrie tripled in a run in the ninth but Oakland fell to the Detroit Tigers 4-1 on Friday night.

“My slider was non-existent my first couple of games and now it's coming around,” Manaea said. “The change has been huge for me and the fastball has always been there. My slider is pretty effective when I'm throwing it where I want to, and just going inside and not letting them get their hands extended.”

Nick Castellanos hit a home run and Cameron Maybin extended his hitting streak, giving rookie Michael Fulmer more than enough support in the Tigers win.

“It was a slider I left up to Castellanos,” Manaea said. “That was just lack of execution.”

Manaea (1-3) gave up three runs on nine hits in six-plus innings. He walked two and struck out four. The A's have lost seven of eight, though they avoided being shut out for the second time.

James McCann and J.D. Martinez also drove in runs for the Tigers, who have won nine of 11 overall. Ian Kinsler was a home run shy of the cycle.

Fulmer (4-1) retired 14 of the first 15 batters he faced, with a single by Khris Davis with two outs in the second inning, the only smudge of an otherwise dominating performance.

“He was throwing hard, number one and he has a short little slider that's tough to pick up,” A's manager Bob Melvin said. “He threw well his last time out but that was probably his best outing since he's been up.”

Fulmer, making his sixth career start, did not allow another baserunner until he walked Chris Coghlan in the sixth and hit Jed Lowrie with a pitch in the seventh.

He did not allow a runner past first through seven innings.

Coghlan singled with two outs in the eighth and Coco Crisp hit a ground rule double, chasing Fulmer. Justin Wilson came on to face pinch-hitter Billy Butler, striking him out to preserve the shutout.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: C Josh Phegley was activated from the DL and C Matt McBride was optioned to Triple-A Nashville before the game. ... RHP Sonny Gray (right trapezius strain) is scheduled to throw off a mound today. ... RHP Henderson Alvarez (right shoulder) resumed throwing again, playing catch at 90 feet. He'll be extended to 105 feet today.

Tigers: RHP Jordan Zimmerman (right groin strain) threw a long toss session before the game and will throw a bullpen session today. Depending on how he comes out of it, he'll either make a start or be placed on the DL. ... Gene Lamont managed the Tigers again Friday with Brad Ausmus attending to family matters. ... RHP Shane Greene (blister on right middle finger) made a rehab start on Wednesday with Toledo and joined the team in Oakland, where he will throw a bullpen session before the team decides what to do with him.

UP NEXT

Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn (1-2, 4.07) gets the call for today's game. He's 2-0 in two starts against the Tigers, both last year.

Tigers: LHP Matt Boyd (0-0, 0.00) will be recalled from Triple-A Toledo to make his second appearance of the season, and his first start, today. He threw 4? shutout innings in relief a month ago.