OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- After years of suffering through tough

seasons with Detroit, Dmitri Young feels good about the Tigers'

future.

"We lost 119 games and we couldn't get anyone to play here,"

Young said. "Now we have the players and we're making it

respectable."

Young hit a three-run homer and Wilfredo Ledezma made the early

lead stand up Wednesday, giving the Tigers an 11-3 win over the

Oakland Athletics and snapping a three-game losing streak.

A year after losing 119 games, the Tigers are 52-61 -- and

gaining respect for their turnaround.

"I feel fortunate," Young said. "I've been here for the worse

and I will be here for the best."

Omar Infante drove in three runs and Rondell White homered as

the Tigers ended a three-game losing streak. Ivan Rodriguez was the

only Detroit starter who did not get a hit.

"They brought their hitting shoes today," A's manager Ken

Macha said. "They're a good offensive team and they showed that

today."

Ledezma (2-0) pitched 5 2-3 innings to earn his first win as a

starter this season. His other victory came in relief on July 25.

"From our standpoint, he definitely looks more poised and is

pitching with more confidence," Tigers manager Alan Trammell said.

"He looks like the real deal. He's not walking as many and not

falling behind as many batters."

Ledezma, a Rule 5 pick last year, gave up two runs and five

hits. After going 10-3 with a 2.42 ERA at Double-A Erie, he has

allowed just 17 hits in 21 1-3 innings in the big leagues.

"He got a taste of the big leagues last year and then he went

to Double-A ball, kept his mouth shut and did his job," Young

said. "He's rewarded with another shot here and he's showing the

Tigers they picked up a prize."

Eric Chavez, Scott Hatteberg and Bobby Kielty drove in runs for

the Athletics, who had their three-game winning streak stopped.

Mark Redman (8-9) lasted four innings, his second-shortest

outing of the season. He was tagged for six runs and seven hits.

"I always try to get groundballs, but if I get the ball up a

bit it becomes a fly ball," Redman said. "Today it didn't go my

way. The balls were falling quite nicely for them."

Redman has allowed 30 runs in 31 innings in six home starts this

season, giving up nine homers.

Ledezma has shown enough to get a chance to earn his way into

the starting rotation come next spring training.

"He looks like a guy we want to count on," Trammell said.

"We're not going to hand him a job. He has to continue to pitch.

He's doing a good job of staying under control."

Young hit his ninth homer of the season, connecting in the third

inning. The A's scored twice in the bottom half when Chavez singled

home a run and Ledezma hit Hatteberg with a pitch with the bases

loaded.

Carlos Pena hit an RBI double, and Nook Logan and Infante each

singled home runs in the fourth for a 6-2 lead.

Marcus Thames and Brandon Inge added RBI singles in the fifth.

White led off the seventh with his 16th homer and Infante had a

two-run single in the seventh.Game notes
The A's activated outfielder Billy McMillon from the 15-day

disabled list, and optioned infielder Esteban German to Triple-A

Sacramento. ... Tigers right-hander Danny Patterson was given his

unconditional release. He was designated for assignment on Aug. 3.

... Infante extended his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games.