Inge and Co. sure are taking some pressure off ailing rookie A's cleanup hitter Yoenis Cespedes, who missed his fourth straight game after straining the top of his left hand before Tuesday's game, when he was a late scratch.
"It doesn't hurt a lot but it hurts me some," Cespedes said before the game.
Melvin said Cespedes did fine taking some swings in the cage and could play Saturday night.
NOTES: Oakland scored its most runs since a 15-5 victory at Boston on Aug. 26, 2011. ... Tigers catcher Alex Avila got the night off, with Gerald Laird starting in his place. Leyland said with a lefty starter, it was a good time to rest Avila and his sore left knee. ... RHP Brandon McCarthy deemed himself ready for Saturday's start after he nursed a tender shoulder this week. ... Dirks is still dealing with a troublesome hamstring. "I'd really like to settle him into that 2 spot, but he's really not running full speed," Leyland said. "I'm a little concerned about it." Leyland said the team's athletic trainer told him Thursday night Dirks can play through the problem and still be 100 percent. ... Detroit RHP Luis Marte, on the DL with a strained left hamstring, was set to face hitters in extended spring training Saturday in Lakeland, Fla. ... Reddick and Cliff Pennington pulled a double-steal in the fourth.
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