Avery’s Victory Is Worth the Wait

Steve Avery couldn’t have asked for much more.

Avery earned his first major league win in four years when the Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics, 2-1, Wednesday night.

Brandon Inge hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to win it for Detroit. Avery (1-0) came in with the bases loaded in the top of the ninth and struck out Scott Hatteberg to end the inning.

“To come in in that situation was pretty exciting,” Avery said. “Especially with the bases loaded. I need every [win] I can get now.”

Tim Hudson pitched eight sharp innings for Oakland, and Ricardo Rincon (2-2) relieved in the ninth.

Craig Monroe, who homered for Detroit’s first run, led off with a double off the wall in right-center and was sacrificed to third by Eric Munson.

Inge then hit a long drive that left fielder Eric Byrnes went back to catch. But he had no chance to get Monroe at the plate.

It was Avery’s first win since July 9, 1999, when he started for Cincinnati against Cleveland.

“Four years out of the game,” Tiger Manager Alan Trammell said. “He put in a lot of work and he was rewarded with a win.”

Detroit won its ninth game of the season. The Tigers are the only team with less than 10 wins.