A's tame Tigers to avoid playoff sweep, Giants keep hopes alive

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SETH Smith blasted a solo home run to help spark the A's over the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on Tuesday 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 4 in Oakland. The A's will host Game 5 tomorrow 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, 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.

San Francisco also stayed alive in their playoffs with the Giants edging the Cincinnati Reds 2-1 in 10 innings.

Cincinnati third baseman Scott Rolen made an error with two outs in the 10th inning to gift San Francisco the all-important victory.

Rolen, an eight-time Gold Glove winner for fielding excellence, couldn't come up with Joaquin Arias' short-hop grounder, bobbled it and threw late to first, allowing the winning run to score.

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