Anderson, Athletics shut out Tigers

OAKLAND, Calif. -- These Athletics never count themselves out -- down and doubted is their dogma.

Brett Anderson outdueled fellow postseason first-timer Anibal Sanchez and the upstart A's were stellar on defense all over the diamond, beating the Tigers, 2-0, and avoiding a sweep last night in their AL Division Series.

The A's cut their deficit in the best-of-five matchup to 2-1. Tigers 16-game winner Max Scherzer will try to close out the series in Game 4 tonight against A's rookie A.J. Griffin as Oakland will play another day in this improbable season full of remarkable rallies.

Coco Crisp saved a likely home run by Detroit's Prince Fielder with a leaping catch at the top of the centerfield wall in the second.

"You see him hit it and you just kind of put your head down a little bit because you think you just gave up a homer," Anderson said. "Then you see him plow through there and catch the ball and it kind of kick starts you to go out there and make pitches."

Said Crisp, "Not to be all overconfident or anything, I think I'm going to catch everything out there."

Yoenis Cespedes hit an RBI single in the first inning and Seth Smith homered in the fifth. That was plenty on a night the Tigers' offense was shut down.

Fielder was the biggest victim of Oakland's spot-on defense, robbed three times. First by Crisp, who let out a big "Whoo!" after raising his arm to signal he'd made the grab.

A's shortstop Stephen Drew made a tough play running to his left to stop Fielder's grounder in the fourth and then threw to first while still off balance and in motion. Then, in the seventh, Cespedes cut over to make a diving catch on Fielder's liner to leftfield.

Anderson, meanwhile, allowed two hits, struck out six and walked two in six innings. Ryan Cook pitched the seventh, Sean Doolittle struck out the side in order in the eighth and closer Grant Balfour finished the four-hitter.

After Miguel Cabrera singled with one out in the ninth, Fielder grounded into a game-ending double play.