Morales pitches 7 sharp innings and Gelof powers A's past Tigers 7-0 for 3-game sweep

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Luis Morales pitched seven sparkling innings, Zack Gelof homered, doubled and drove in four runs, and the Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers 7-0 on Wednesday night to sweep their three-game series.

Making his fourth career start, Morales (2-0) allowed two hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. The 22-year-old rookie from Cuba lowered his ERA to 1.19 in five major league appearances.

The AL Central-leading Tigers lost their fourth in a row and fell a half-game behind AL East-leading Toronto for the best record in the American League.

Brett Harris and Nick Kurtz each had two hits and scored two runs.

Harris doubled off Detroit starter Casey Mize leading off the fourth and scored when a throwing error by Mize allowed Gelof to reach safely, making it 5-0.

Mize (12-5) permitted five runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Kurtz singled leading off the first, moved to second when Shea Langeliers walked and scored on a single by Tyler Soderstrom.

Spencer Torkelson tripled in the second and Dillon Dingler singled in the fifth for Detroit's only hits.

Harris reached on an infield single in the second and Gelof hit the next pitch over the left-center wall. Kurtz followed with a single, advanced to third on Langeliers' double and then scored on Brent Rooker's sacrifice fly to make it 4-0.

Gelof entered batting .063 (2 for 32) with one RBI this season. ... Harris had his fourth career multihit game and first since July 13, 2024.

Detroit's Chris Paddack (5-11, 4.98 ERA) is scheduled to pitch Friday against Kansas City's Seth Lugo (8-6, 3.99) in the opener of a three-game series.

The Athletics hadn't announced their starter for Friday, the first of three games against Texas. Jack Leiter (8-7, 3.81 ERA) is set to pitch for the Rangers.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Casey Mize throws to an Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sergio Estrada)

Detroit Tigers' Spencer Torkelson slides into third base after hitting a triple during the second inning of a baseball game against the Athletic,s Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sergio Estrada)

Athletics' Zack Gelof rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sergio Estrada)

Athletics starting pitcher Luis Morales throws to a Detroit Tigers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2025, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sergio Estrada)

TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--

Axelspace Corporation (“Axelspace”), a leading developer and operator of microsatellites dedicated to realizing its vision of “Space within Your Reach,” has made a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jethi Software Development PLC (“Jethi”), an Ethiopian technology company, to cooperate on addressing social and development challenges through the utilization of satellite-based Earth observation (EO) data.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260114413353/en/

The MoU was signed by Naol Debele, Chief Executive Officer of Jethi, and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace. The signing ceremony, held in Ethiopia on January 13 (local time), was attended by representatives of the Space Science and Geospatial Institute (SSGI) of Ethiopia, members of the Jethi Board of Directors and invited guests, in an official and protocol capacity.

Axelspace positions the expansion of EO data utilization in emerging markets, including Africa, as a key medium- to long-term strategic priority. Through this collaboration, Axelspace aims to support locally driven, data-informed solutions.

Under the MoU, Axelspace will provide EO data and know-how for its utilization across priority sectors, including agriculture, environmental and forest conservation, disaster risk management and climate resilience, urban planning and infrastructure development. Jethi will lead the establishment of a local framework for EO data utilization in Ethiopia, coordinating with relevant stakeholders to integrate satellite data with local information and institutional requirements. The partnership aims to identify priority challenges, develop scalable solutions that combine EO data with local information, and foster the growth of a sustainable ecosystem for satellite data utilization in Ethiopia.

Axelspace is participating in the “Emerging Countries Working Group”, which was launched in 2024 by Cross U, a general incorporated association, to promote space business co-creation between Japan and African countries.

“With the economic development of emerging countries, including those in Africa, the demand for satellite data utilization is expected to increase significantly,” said Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace. “We will work to build win-win relationships that create new value with local public and private sector partners, leveraging Japan’s advanced technological capabilities and expertise to contribute to the long-term development of a platform for satellite data utilization.”

For the full press release, please visit: https://www.axelspace.com/news/mou_ethiopia/

Naol Debele, Chief Executive Officer of Jethi (left), and Yuya Nakamura, President and CEO of Axelspace, at the signing ceremony on January 13 in Ethiopia