Page One

OAKLAND – Mark Redman outpitched Barry Zito at the Coliseum, where the Oakland ace hadn’t lost a regular-season game in 14 months, as the Detroit Tigers beat the Athletics 3-1 Friday night to snap a five-game losing streak. 

Redman (7-9) pitched seven innings of six-hit ball, striking out five and working out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh. 

Juan Acevedo got three outs for his 19th save in 23 chances, striking out Mark Ellis and retiring Ray Durham on a grounder with two runners on to end it. 

Carlos Pena homered against his former teammates, and Detroit also used two unearned runs to hand Zito (15-4) just his second loss in 18 starts. 

It was a narrow defeat, but Zito — tied with Boston’s Derek Lowe for the AL lead in victories — was nowhere near the unbeatable form he has displayed for most of the season. 

After winning his previous five starts, he lasted just six innings against the Tigers, allowing six hits and three walks while retiring the side in order just once. 

Zito hadn’t lost at home since June 2, 2001, against Baltimore — though he also lost a 1-0 decision to the Yankees in the Game 3 of last season’s division series. 

Zito’s Oakland-record streak of 16 straight victories at the Coliseum ended, but Miguel Tejada extended his hitting streak to 22 games — the longest in the AL this season. Tejada singled in the sixth. 

Detroit general manager Dave Dombrowski said Redman was the player most coveted by opposing teams at the trade deadline, but it was easy to see why Dombrowski hung on to him. 

Redman mostly stayed out of trouble with a good mix of pitches and good defense behind him. When the A’s loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, he got Durham and Tejada on foul popups. 

Pena, traded by the A’s last month in a three-way deal that brought Ted Lilly to Oakland, homered in the fourth and scored two runs as the Tigers beat the A’s for just the second time in their last nine meetings. 

Ellis homered for the A’s, who have lost seven of 10. 

Pena scored Detroit’s first unearned run in the second when Ellis made a throwing error that sent Pena to third. He scored on Damian Jackson’s single. 

The Tigers added another unearned run following Pena’s homer to center field. Craig Paquette singled and reached second before Damion Easley hit an easy grounder — but Zito dropped Olmedo Saenz’s relay throw to first base, allowing Paquette to score. 

Notes: Before the game, Oakland released LHP Mike Magnante, a 12-year veteran. ... Eric Chavez, a Gold Glove third baseman last season, has been the A’s DH this week to rest his tender hamstrings. Ellis, a natural shortstop who is the team’s regular second baseman, has played third in his absence. ... Zito has walked 10 in his last three starts. ... A’s reliever Jim Mecir struck out the side in the seventh.