Springs Rocked Again as Athletics Fall to Tigers

Jake Rogers of the Tigers celebrating a pinch-homer against the Athletics

Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

July 8, 2026

Tigers 6, Athletics 1

Struggling Athletics left-hander Jeffrey Springs gave up six runs in under five innings, putting his team in an insurmountable hole en route to a 6–1 loss to the host Detroit Tigers Wednesday night. His counterpart, Tigers right-hander Troy Melton, held the Athletics to one unearned run on four hits. Across 5 1/3 innings, he walked one and struck out nine to send the sputtering Athletics to their fifth straight loss. Additionally, the Athletics have lost nine of their last 10 and 13 of their last 16 games.

Athletics – Tigers Game Summary

The Tigers took a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first on a Riley Greene single. Jake Rogers made it 3–0 in the bottom of the second on a two-run homer. The Athletics made it 3–1 in the top of the fourth when Jacob Wilson reached on an errant throw to first by Tigers shortstop Zach McKinstry. It scored Tyler Soderstrom, activated from the injured list prior to the game. Spencer Torkelson put the game out of reach in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run homer off Springs. Neither team scored over the final four innings, sealing the 6–1 Tigers victory.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Rookie Stayed Hot

Athletics rookie second baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer went 3-for-4 for the second straight game. In eight games since debuting June 29, he has gone 15-for-30 (.500/.516/.600) with three doubles. Since 1901, Kuroda-Grauer is the 28th player in AL/NL history to crack fifteen hits in his first eight career games. Fifteen of those twenty-eight batted .500 or greater in their first eight games. Players batting .500 or better with at least 15 hits in their first eight games include Tom Hughes of the 1930 Tigers (.552), Riggs Stephenson of the 1921 Cleveland Indians (.552), Jay Bruce of the 2008 Cincinnati Reds (.552), Ken Griffey of the 1973 Reds (.533), Yasiel Puig of the 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers (.500), and Hall of Famer Stan Musial of the 1941 St. Louis Cardinals (.500). Musial also went 15-for-30.

Additionally, Kuroda-Grauer is the second Athletics player to accomplish this feat, as Mitchell Page went 16-for-32 (.500) in 1977.

Relief Pitching

Athletics relievers Justin Sterner, Mason Barnett, and José Suarez combined for 3 2/3 scoreless innings after Springs left the game. They retired 13 of the 16 batters they faced, with two Barnett walks and a hit off Suarez leading to the only Tigers baserunners.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

Starting Pitching

Springs had another rough night, allowing six runs — all earned — on six hits across 4 1/3 innings. Two of the six hits were homers. Additionally, he walked four and struck out four. His ERA for the season is now 6.08.

Since winning three of his first four starts in 2026, posting a 1.46 ERA and 0.770 WHIP in the process, Springs has been in a tailspin. Across 15 starts, he has gone 0–9 with a 7.64 ERA and 1.644 WHIP. Of the 91 hits he has allowed, 26 were homers.

Runners Left in Scoring Position

Six of the nine runners the Athletics left on base were in scoring position. They batted 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position, but none of those hits produced any runs. They left runners on the corners in the second, fourth, and seventh. In the sixth, they left runners on second and third, and in the ninth, they left a runner on second.

Looking Ahead

Melton (5–1, 1.82 ERA) earned the win as Springs (3–9, 6.08 ERA) took the loss. There was no save.

The Athletics (41–51) and Tigers (42–50) will play the third game of their three-game series Thursday at Comerica Park. It will be a battle of lefties — José Suarez (1–2, 4.56 ERA) as an opener for the Athletics and Framber Valdez (4–6, 4.29 ERA) for the Tigers. First pitch will be at 6:40 pm Eastern/3:40 pm Pacific.