Justin Verlander helps Tigers open best-of-five series with win over Athletics

DETROIT -- Justin Verlander threw a fastball that caught a bit too much of the plate, allowing Oakland's Coco Crisp to lead off the game with a stunning home run.

For the first few innings, Verlander labored, his pitch count rising while his control deserted him. But the A's could manage only that one run, missing their best chance of the night to break through against Detroit's ace.

Verlander held Oakland scoreless after his early slip and Alex Avila homered in the fifth inning to lift the Tigers over the Athletics, 3-1, Saturday night in the opener of their best-of-five Division Series. Verlander allowed three hits in seven innings and matched his postseason high with 11 strikeouts.

"Early on was kind of a bit of a battle for me," said Verlander, who threw 61 pitches in the first three innings. "Just kind of found my rhythm a little bit and was able to hit my spots better, and I started throwing my breaking ball for strikes a little bit better, too."

He added, "In the postseason, you don't go out there and think about pitch count and keeping it low. I'm just going to be aggressive, try to find the strike zone and throw quality strikes, and the pitch count will take care of itself."

"Most good starters, you try to get to them before they get into their rhythm," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "He got better as the game went along. A lot of times your best opportunity is early in the game."

As usual, Verlander seemed stronger in the later innings, striking out the side in the sixth and the first two hitters in the seventh. "Early on, didn't have great control of any of my pitches," he said. "But I was able to get myself out of jams that I created."

Joaquin Benoit pitched the eighth and Jose Valverde struck out two in a perfect ninth for the save. Oakland's Jarrod Parker allowed two earned runs in 61/3 innings and took the loss.

Game 2 is Sunday, with Doug Fister taking the mound for Detroit and lefthander Tommy Milone for Oakland. Then the series shifts to the West Coast.

"It's always important to get Game 1. The way it is now, obviously, it's nice starting here, but to play the last three games in Oakland is definitely tough," Avila said. "Every game's important, but it felt real good to get one out of the way."

It was only the second victory for Detroit in its last seven postseason series openers. The Tigers lost Game 1 to the Yankees in the 2011 Division Series before winning in five. Detroit then lost the ALCS opener to Texas.

The Tigers tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom of the first. Austin Jackson doubled off shortstop Stephen Drew's glove and Quintin Berry singled off third baseman Josh Donaldson's glove to put runners on first and third. Jackson scored when Miguel Cabrera, who went 0-for-3, grounded into a double play.