Athletics Push Tigers To Brink With 6-3 Victory - East Idaho News
Sports

Athletics Push Tigers To Brink With 6-3 Victory

  Published at

Getty S 43013 MLB%20Baseball%202?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1381182351144Rob Carr/ Getty Images(DETROIT) —  Brandon Moss, Seth Smith, and Josh Reddick all homered as the Oakland Athletics doubled up the Detroit Tigers 6-3 to take a 2-1 AL Division Series lead on Monday.

Moss’s home run broke a 3-3 tie in the fifth inning and put the Tigers ahead for good.  Smith followed with a two-run blast that chased Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez from the game.

“It was exciting for Brandon to get us on the board,” Smith said. “It was nice to score some runs and get back on top there.”

Grant Balfour closed the game for the Athletics, but he got into a shouting match with Victor Martinez in the ninth inning that caused both benches and bullpens to clear.  No punches were thrown and nobody was ejected from the game.

“It’s competition. Everyone gets going a little bit,” Moss said. “Balfour’s a character on the mound. There are going to be fireworks sometimes.”

The Athletics can close out the series Tuesday and reach the ALCS for the first time since 2006.  Oakland will start rookie Dan Straily, while Doug Fister will pitch for the Tigers.

Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio

SUBMIT A CORRECTION