A’s Use Nine-Run Inning to Overcome Tigers, 12-7

Terry Steinbach’s three-run homer keyed a nine-run sixth inning Wednesday night as the Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers, 12-7.

The A’s sent 15 men to the plate in the inning and seven walked. Reliever Mike Munoz walked three consecutive batters with the bases loaded. In all, Tiger pitchers walked 11 during the 4-hour 9-minute game, an Oakland record for a nine-inning game.

Kelly Downs pitched 2 2/3 innings and got the victory despite yielding Cecil Fielder’s sixth career grand slam.

Joe Kiely, the loser, gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning and walked three. Greg Gohr, making his major league debut, yielded five runs and three hits in one-third of an inning.

A’s starter Ron Darling left after 3 1/3 innings because of a strained muscle on the left side of his rib cage. He gave up five hits, walked two and struck out three.