Athletics tame Tigers to avoid MLB playoff sweep

Seth Smith blasted a solo home run to help spark the Athletics over the Detroit Tigers 2-0 and sustain Oakland's hopes of winning their Major League Baseball playoff series. The Tigers, who won the first two games of the series in their ballpark, still lead the best-of-five American League divisional series 2-1 with game four on Wednesday in Oakland. The A's host game five on Thursday if necessary. Either Oakland or Detroit will face Baltimore or the New York Yankees in the best-of-seven American League championship series to decide a berth in the World Series final. Oakland starting pitcher Brett Anderson, who had not taken the mound in 20 days after an abdominal injury, hurled six shutout innings on Tuesday, giving up only two hits with two walks while striking out six to silence Detroit batters. "I just wanted to go out and give us a chance to win. I'm glad we got it done," Anderson said. "Couldn't really script it but it worked out. Hopefully we can keep going and win two more." The A's seized the lead in the first inning when leadoff hitter Coco Crisp singled to right field, advanced on a walk and scored from second base on a single by Yoenis Cespedes. Crisp leaped high over the centerfield wall to made a grab off a Prince Fielder deep fly ball to deny the Detroit slugger a homer in the second inning. "Coco robbing the homer kind of set the tone," Anderson said. Smith connected on his homer in the fifth inning to boost Oakland's lead to 2-0 and three A's relief pitchers combined to strike out five while allowing only two hits in three scoreless innings after Anderson was lifted. Australian right-handed relief pitcher Grant Balfour entered in the ninth inning facing the heart of the Tigers' batting order. Balfour struck out Omar Infante and, after surrendering a single to Miguel Cabrera, induced Prince Fielder to hit into a game-ending double play.