DETROIT -- With a new pitching coach monitoring his workload, Mike Fiers got a rare opportunity to pitch deep into the game.

But it wasn't enough to keep the Detroit Tigers from dropping their eighth consecutive game Wednesday night at Comerica Park.

Fiers threw a season-high 109 pitches and allowed just one run through seven innings, but the Oakland Athletics beat the struggling Tigers 3-0.

The Tigers (36-45) haven't won a game since June 17. The Athletics (43-38) can sweep the four-game series on Thursday.

The Tigers fired pitching coach Chris Bosio before the game. He was replaced by Rick Anderson, who moved from the bullpen to the dugout for the first time Wednesday night.

The new coach, combined with a depleted bullpen, gave Fiers a long leash that he took advantage of with a solid start.

The A's scored their only run against Fiers in the fourth when Matt Joyce led off with a single and was doubled home by Jed Lowrie.

The A's did have plenty of long outs, including flyouts of 417, 412 and 396 feet.

The Tigers' offense was once again bedeviled by a pitcher who was down on the farm not long ago.

Chris Bassitt, a native of nearby Genoa, Ohio, was called up on Wednesday to replace the injured Daniel Mengden. He delighted his large cheering section by tossing six scoreless innings. The Tigers failed to score despite being given five free passes.

The A's added two runs in the ninth inning off reliever Alex Wilson, forestalling any Tigers' comeback attempt.

WORTH NOTING

Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire was ejected after the third inning for arguing balls and strikes.

It was his third ejection of the season and the 76th of his career.

Bassitt loaded the bases on three walks in the third inning before striking out Niko Goodrum. Home plate umpire Lance Barksdale gave Bassitt two borderline strikes on the outside corner, irking Goodrum and ultimately leading rapidly to Gardenhire's ejection.

Bench coach Steve Liddle managed the final six innings.

UP NEXT

The Tigers and A's wrap up a four-game series on Thursday at 1:10 p.m. Tigers right-hander Michael Fulmer (3-6, 4.17 ERA) will face A's lefty Sean Manaea (7-6, 3.40).