A's Play Close to Perfect Game in 17-3 Domination of Struggling Tigers

It would be nearly impossible to play a better game than the A's did Thursday afternoon in Detroit.

Oakland scored a season-high 17 runs and pounded out 16 hits, including five home runs, en route to a 17-3 shellacking of the Tigers.

Let's break down just how well the A's excelled in all three phases of the game:

Offense

After scoring a total of 18 runs in their previous six games, the A's exploded for 17 on Thursday. Oakland matched a season-high with five homers, hitting for the home run cycle -- Jurickson Profar hit a grand slam, Marcus Semien a 3-run shot, Josh Phegley and Mark Canha two-run blasts, and Matt Olson a solo homer.

Every member of the A's lineup recorded at least one hit, with Phegley going 4-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. His 26 RBI rank second among major league catchers.

Defense

The A's were just as good with the gloves Thursday, making all the routine plays and a couple of great ones. Of course, Matt Chapman had the gem of the day, ranging well to his right and throwing across his body to take a sure hit away from Niko Goodrum.

Pitching

Chris Bassitt pitched the game of his life, tossing eight shutout innings and allowing just four hits and two walks, with seven strikeouts. Bassitt has allowed three runs or fewer in all five of his starts this season while striking out at least six in every game.

The 30-year-old right-hander is finally fully healthy after undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2016 and it has shown. Bassitt has notched 38 strikeouts in 32 2/3 innings with a 1.93 ERA and 0.92 WHIP.

Detroit did get on the board with two outs in the ninth inning, but the game was long over by then. This was complete domination by the A's, or as the Tigers Twitter account put it:

Just the icing on the cake.

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