Both starting pitchers continue to look sharp as the Oakland Athletics and Detroit Tigers remain tied at 0-0 through four innings.
Tigers vs. Athletics score update: Detroit, Oakland remain scoreless through 4
Justin Verlander and Sonny Gray have combined for 12 strikeouts.
Sonny Gray had no problems with the Tigers in the top of the third, striking out Austin Jackson, Torii Hunter and Miguel Cabrera. Gray had some help from umpire C.B. Bucknor on the Jackson strikeout, getting a questionable call on the outside corner for the third strike.
Of course, Bucknor made an even more questionable call in the bottom of the second, ringing up Seth Smith on a pitch that looked even more off the plate. Bucknor's strike zone has sparked some reactions from a number of observers on Twitter:
That's weird. I didn't even think I'd notice that C.B. Bucknor was behind the plate tonight.
— Grant Brisbee (@mccoveychron) October 6, 2013
Justin Verlander continued his dominance in the bottom half of the third, working another perfect frame. The right-hander recorded his fourth strikeout of the game on a filthy backdoor curveball against Stephen Vogt.
Gray responded with a clean inning of his own, forcing two groundouts and one flyout to push the game into the bottom of the fourth.
Verlander surrendered his first baserunner in the fourth, when Josh Donaldson smacked a two-out single. The Tigers right-hander dominated otherwise, sending three batters down looking during the inning.
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