DET@OAK: Cabrera's homer ties the game in the ninth
He says the answer to his recent woes on the mound is obvious.
In fact, it's really quite simple.
"I've just got to work on throwing strikes," he said. "I felt like I had a good command of the ball [against Toronto in my first start], but I don't know. That's just one start. I need to figure out how to be consistent, even when I'm not feeling good."
Cahill will take the mound on Sunday in the series finale against the Tigers with some momentum on his side. Including Saturday's 6-2 victory, the A's have won six of 10 games since opening the season with a 1-4 record.
By contrast, Saturday's loss also snapped a four-game winning streak for the Tigers.
However, it could be Detroit slugger Miguel Cabrera who provides the difference between a victory and a defeat for his club on Sunday. Overall, Cabrera is hitting .347, with 10 home runs and 27 RBIs, against Oakland since joining the Tigers in 2008. He went 1-for-2 on Saturday, and is hitting .327 for the season.
"He's one of the top hitters in the game, and they've got speed guys around him," Cahill said. "It's like a good little mix, as far as speed and power go. And they've got that huge threat in Miguel Cabrera. You definitely don't want to get guys on base when he's coming up."
It will also be up to Detroit starter Brad Penny to shut down an Oakland offense that has struggled at times this season.
"Our pitching has been so good that we've been in every game and had a chance to win every game," Oakland second baseman Mark Ellis said. "So when we start swinging the bats, we're going to be just fine, we're going to win a lot of ballgames. Hopefully, sooner rather than later."
Tigers: Guillen making progress
� Tigers infielder Carlos Guillen (left knee soreness) is working his way back to health. Guillen, who had a setback in his rehab late in Spring Training, is working with a physical therapist in Tampa, Fla. three days a week and spending the rest of his time at the Tigers' Spring Training facility in Lakeland. He's not ready for baseball activities.
� Magglio Ordonez, who missed four games this week with fluid in his right ankle, returned to lineup on Saturday and went 1-for-4 as the designated hitter.
"I'm trying to get bats into the lineup," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I'm trying to get creative with my positions, as well as the bats. If Ordonez is going to hit against right-handed pitchers, then he'll have to play right field. I'm going to DH [Victor] Martinez against right-handers."
A's: Ellis gets night off
� Second baseman Mark Ellis was out of the lineup on Saturday, with utility infielder Andy LaRoche getting the start at second after playing the previous two games at third base. Ellis was given the night off and could return to play on Sunday.
� Injured closer Andrew Bailey (strained right forearm) played long toss on Saturday, and is scheduled to throw another bullpen session on Sunday. There is no timetable for his return.
� The A's love day games. The club is 4-1 in day games this season, and 3-7 at night. They went 35-21 in day games last season, third-best in the Major Leagues.
Worth noting
The A's have eight errors in their past five games, after going six consecutive games without an error. The club had nine errors in the first four games. ... The Tigers have at least one double in each of their first 16 games. No Tigers team had doubled in more than 14 consecutive games to start a season since at least 1919.
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