Oakland walkoff victory sends series to game five
The Oakland Athletics rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning to beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 and tie the ALDS at two games apiece. Seth Smith doubled to deep right center in the bottom of the ninth inning to score Josh Reddick and Josh Donaldson to tie the game at three. Coco Crisp then singled home Smith for the game-winner. Until then Stephen Drew doubled in the sixth inning to score Coco Crisp for the lone run for Oakland.
Max Scherzer turned in a solid pitching performance for the Detroit Tigers, pitching into the sixth inning allowing one earned run and striking out eight. Prince Fielder backed up a strong pitching effort by the Tiger staff with a solo home run in the fourth inning. Austin Jackson singled in the Tigers’ first run in the third inning. Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera had one hit in four at-bats for Detroit.
Right-hander A.J. Griffin became the third rookie A’s pitcher to start a game this series this five innings allowing two earned runs
Octavio Dotel, Phil Coke, Al Alburquerque, Joaquin Benoit combined with Scherzer to hold Oakland to one run until the ninth. Jose Valverde then blew the save giving up three earned runs in two thirds of an inning.
Game five will be played on Thursday with Detroit sending Justin Verlander to the mound against Oakland’s Jarrod Parker
