Max Scherzer finished with 11 strikeouts in seven innings to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 3-2 win over the Oakland Athletics in Game 1 of the American League Division Series on Friday.
Tigers vs. Athletics, 2013 ALDS Game 1 final score: Detroit holds on for 3-2 win
Max Scherzer racked up double-digit strikeouts and overcame a late home run off the bat of Yoenis Cespedes to help the Tigers steal home field advantage from the A’s.
Scherzer overpowered the Athletics' lineup for the majority of the game, including in the fourth inning, in which he struck out the side. Only Yoenis Cespedes was able to manage any significant damage against the Cy Young favorite.
Cespedes tripled off of Scherzer in the second inning and hit a monster home run to get the A’s on the board in the seventh. Fortunately for Scherzer, the Tigers picked up all the offense they needed before he even stepped foot on the field.
Miguel Cabrera and Alex Avila both swatted run-scoring hits for Detroit in a three-run first inning against A's starter Bartolo Colon, who recovered to pitch five consecutive scoreless frames before giving way to the relief corps. Dan Otero and Sean Doolittle kept the Tigers off the board, but Oakland's bats were unable to break through against Detroit's bullpen.
Martinez, Avila and Omar Infante had two knocks apiece for the Tigers, who outhit the A's, 10-3.
The AL Central and West champions will meet again on Saturday. Justin Verlander (13-12, 3.46 ERA) gets the ball for the Tigers opposite A's rookie Sonny Gray (5-3, 2.67 ERA).
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