Verlander Leads Tigers Into ALCS – MLB Roundup For Oct. 11th

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Detroit Tigers relied on a couple of their stalwarts to advance to the American League Championship Series for the third consecutive year.

Justin Verlander tossed eight brilliant innings and Miguel Cabrera hit a two-run homer as the Tigers downed the Athletics 3-0 in Oakland. Verlander had a no-hitter until Yoenis Cespedes (yoh-EH'-nehs SEHS'-peh-dehs) singled up the middle with two outs in the seventh. Verlander retired his first 16 batters before Josh Reddick worked out a one-out walk in the sixth.

Cabrera's blast put the Tigers ahead 2-0 in the fourth, two innings after Victor Martinez scored on Omar Infante's (ihn-FAHN'-tayz) grounder. Martinez had three of Detroit's eight hits to finish the five-game series with a .450 average.

Joaquin Benoit made it interesting with two outs in the ninth, allowing a base hit before hitting Cespedes. But he closed out the series by getting Seth Smith to fly to right field.

A's starter and loser Sonny Gray left the game in the sixth, charged with three runs on six hits and four walks.

The Tigers now head to Boston to take on the Red Sox in Game 1 of the ALCS on Saturday.

BALTIMORE (AP) — Orioles third baseman Manny Machado will have surgery on Monday to repair a ligament in his left knee.

Machado tore the ligament on Sept. 23 and decided to have surgery after consulting with several doctors.

The All-Star expects to be ready for the start of spring training.

CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Cubs outfielder Ryan Sweeney has agreed to a two-year contract that includes a club option for 2016.

Sweeney batted .266 with six homers and 19 RBIs in 70 games this season, missing two months because of a broken rib after he crashed into a wall in late June.