The Oakland Athletics stayed alive against the Detroit Tigers with a 2-0 victory in Tuesday's game, thus avoiding a clean sweep in the AL division series.

Before this game the A's had lost two consecutive games to the Tigers. The Tigers are leading the best-of-five series 2-1.

Coco Crisp compensated for his error in the previous game saving a likely home run by Prince Fielder with a brilliant catch.

The Associated Press quoted Brett Anderson, the Oakland pitcher, as saying: "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. 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."

Outfielder Yoenis Cespedes made a vital contribution for the A's by hitting an RBI single. Seth Smith also showed brilliant form with the baseball bat, smashing a homer. There was plenty of action on the field as the A's gave the Tigers a tough fight to remain in contention.

The Tigers will do their best to win the series in their fourth game against the Athletics Wednesday. The A's have the advantage of home support in all their remaining games.

A's showed a flawless defense throughout the game. Fielder was robbed three times. Crisp's catch was noteworthy. He had a sigh of relief on his face after he successfully caught Fielder denying him a home run.

Jim Leyland, the Tigers' manager said: "Coco's catch, the ball was out of the ballpark and it came back. The key to that play was he was playing deep and that enabled him to get into a spot to get up and make the catch. And it was a great catch, no doubt about it."

For Fielder it turned out to be a rather frustrating day thanks to supreme efforts from Stephen Drew, Cespedes and Crisp who kept him from scoring.

Fielder said: "It's frustrating. But it's a good team you're playing. They're going to make those plays, that's why they're here."