The A’s continued a nice late-season roll Monday night, and in doing so they overcame some adversity before the game even began.
Scheduled starter Jharel Cotton was scratched roughly 10 minutes before first pitch against the Detroit Tigers with a strained right groin, apparently suffered while going through his pregame preparations. Long reliever Raul Alcantara started on short notice and performed admirably, and rookie first baseman Matt Olson homered for the fourth consecutive game as the A’s rolled 8-3 in the opener of a three-game series at Comerica Park.
Oakland has won nine of its past 12 and is 4-3 on this nine-game road trip.