The Detroit Tigers took the opening game of the American League Division Series with a victory over the Oakland Athletics behind a dominant effort from Justin Verlander at Comerica Park on Saturday night, 3-1.

Verlander was commanding following a poor start, as the hard-throwing right-hander struck out 11 in seven innings. Aside from a home run he conceded to Coco Crisp in the first at-bat of the game, Verlander shut out the A's and allowed just a single to Cliff Pennington, and a double to Stephen Drew, to go along with four walks.

Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde shut out the A's in the final two inning to hold of Oakland.

Catcher Alex Aliva homered off Oakland starter Jarrod Parker in the fifth inning to give Detroit some breathing room. Aliva also a single in the seventh inning.

Parker had a key error in the bottom of the third when trying to cover first base on Quintin Berry's swinging bunt, knocking it down the first-base line allowing Omar Infate to score.

Major league baseball