DETROIT: The Oakland Athletics beat the Detroit Tigers with a walk-off single for a series-levelling 1-0 win in Game Two of their American League Division Series yesterday.
Oakland evened the best-of-five series at one game each, but they left it late in a game dominated by both starting pitchers in the Coliseum in Oakland.
With the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning and nobody out, Stephen Vogt connected with a 1-1 fastball to left field to bring home Yoenis Cespedes.
Both starting pitchers had excellent games, with Oakland’s Sonny Gray going eight innings for four hits and nine strikeouts.
Detroit’s Justin Verlander went seven innings for four hits and 11 strikeouts, but the bullpen couldn’t finish the job.
Cespedes led off the ninth with a single to left field and then Seth Smith hit a single before Al Albuquerque intentionally walked Josh Reddick to load the bases.
Detroit manager Jim Leyland then brought in Rick Porcello to pitch to Vogt, who ended the game on the third pitch he faced.
Both managers heaped praise on A’s rookie pitcher Gray, while not forgetting Verlander.
“I’ve got to give Gray a lot of credit. He was everything that was advertised,” said Detroit’s Leyland.
“We’re not swinging the bats maybe the way we’re capable but you can’t take away anything form that performance tonight.
REUTERS
