Tigers & Reds denied sweep of divisional series

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Brett Anderson outdueled fellow postseason first-timer Anibal Sanchez as the Oakland Athletics showed off stellar defense all over the diamond to avoid another playoff sweep by Detroit by shutting out the Tigers, 2-0, in the AL Division Series to cut their deficit in the best-of-five matchup to 2-1.

Oakland's Coco Crisp robbed Prince Fielder of a likely homerun with a leaping catch at the top of the center-field wall in the 2nd inning. Detroit's 16-game winner Max Scherzer will try to close out the series in Game 4 this Wednesday night against the A's rookie A.J. Griffin.


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Reds third baseman Scott Rolen bobbled the short-hop in the 10th inning, which allowed Joaquin Arias enough time to beat the throw as the go-ahead run scored for a 2-1 victory for the San Francisco Giants against Cincinnati in the NL Divisional Series to avoid a sweep.

Trailing the series 2-1, left-hander Barry Zito will pitch Game 4 this Wednesday for the Giants, who have won the last 11 times he started. The Reds are currently not sure whether to try ace Johnny Cueto, who was forced out of the opener in San Francisco on Saturday with spasms in his back and side.