DETROIT _ The way things are going for the A's these days, they're better off letting the other team score first.
As they've done often this month, the A's overcame another big early deficit for an 8-7 come-from-behind win over the Tigers Tuesday, overtaking the Los Angeles Angels for sole possession of third place in the American League West.
For the second night in a row, it was Jed Lowrie who delivered the big blow in the ninth inning. After hitting the go-ahead solo home run in Monday night's win, Lowrie came through again, following up leadoff double by Matt Joyce with a single to center to put the A's (42-38) ahead by a run.
It was Lowrie's 15th go-ahead RBI this season, capping off a 4-for-4 night, and the seventh time the A's have scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning or later this month.
Dustin Fowler later added on with a single to right that drove home Lowrie, putting the A's at 103 runs scored this season in the eighth inning or later, most in the majors.
The late-inning comeback came after the A's clawed their way back from a 6-0 deficit after just three innings. Mark Canha and Jonathan Lucroy got the A's on the board in the fourth with three runs on back-to-back doubles. Chad Pinder and Lowrie added three more runs in the next inning with back-to-back home runs.
It's the same type of resilience the A's have shown throughout the season, as they've managed to stay above .500 and climb up the standings despite currently having seven starting pitchers on the disabled list, with Daniel Mengden the latest casualty.
"Tells you guys aren't letting stuff like that affect them," A's manager Bob Melvin said before Tuesday's game. "Tells you hopefully we're good enough that when some of these guys get back we'll get even better. We have to sustain it here and once we get home we have a pretty tough schedule coming up. Hopefully we start getting some guys back and have a good home stand, because we've been playing better as of late on the road."
Frankie Montas was responsible for the early six runs scored by the Tigers (36-44) as he turned in his shortest outing of the season, allowing six runs on eight hits and three walks over just three innings of work.
The A's bullpen continued to shine in relief of Montas, allowing just one run over six innings. Blake Treinen capped it off with a perfect ninth to convert his 15th consecutive save opportunity and 19th save overall this season.
