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Detroit get off to perfect start Tigers rally to defeat A's again
(1 day later)
The Detroit Tigers eased past Oakland Athletics 5-1 in the opener of their best-of-seven American League play-off to take a step nearer the World Series. Detroit rallied from 3-1 down to win 8-5 at Oakland and lead the American League Championship Series 2-0.
Barry Zito retired the first eight Tigers, but Detroit slowly got to grips with the veteran pitcher and took charge in the third and fourth innings. Outfielder Alexis Gomez, who spent half the season in the minor leagues, hit a two-RBI single in the fourth and a two-run homer in the sixth.
Brandon Inge got things rolling, before Curtis Granderson, Ivan Rodriguez and an Inge RBI double sealed the victory. Curtis Granderson nailed his third home run of the play-offs for the Tigers.
Jay Payton ensured Oakland avoided a shut-out, driving a run in the eighth. The best-of-seven series resumes in Detroit on Friday. The winner will play St Louis or the New York Mets in the World Series.
The Mets and Cardinals saw their National League Championship Series opener rained off at the Shea Stadium on Wednesday.
  • Before the game in Oakland, fans paid a silent tribute to Yankees pitcherCory Lidle following his death in a plane crash in New York.
    The former Athletics player was killed when he crashed his lightaircraft into a Manhattan skyscraper on Wednesday.