A's avoid sweep in Detroit, but lose LHP Anderson

An MRI revealed Anderson sustained a Grade 2 strain of his right oblique muscle on Wednesday night, when the left-hander awkwardly fell off the mound and exited after two-plus innings.

Anderson was 4-2 with a 2.57 ERA after six games while coming off Tommy John surgery. The A's revealed the extent of his latest injury after their victory.

"He's a guy that's got ace-type of stuff. It hurts to lose a starting pitcher," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "But we've lost a lot of starters in the last month and a half, three."

Melvin said he doesn't know about Anderson's availability for the postseason.

The team also is without Brandon McCarthy, who was hit in the head by a line drive, and Bartolo Colon, who was suspended for using a performance-enhancing drug.

Both clubs are in second place in their divisions, and Oakland is even with Baltimore for the wild-card spot.

The Tigers are two games behind the Central-leading Chicago White Sox.

Outscored 18-4 in the first two games, Oakland held down Miguel Cabrera to win the finale. Cabrera singled in four at-bats, and tops the AL in batting at .333.

Josh Donaldson hit a go-ahead single in a four-run sixth inning that made it 6-3, then had an RBI double to cap a six-run ninth that included Smith's three-run double.

"We're not the type of team to score a run here, a run there, two runs here. We're more of a big-inning team, more often than not," Smith said.

Pat Neshek (2-1) retired the only batter he faced and got the win.

Anibal Sanchez (3-6), who held Cleveland hitless for 6 2-3 innings in his last start, gave up six runs on six hits and two walks in 5 2-3 innings.

Smith hit his 14th homer, a solo shot in the fifth that made it 2-all. The Tigers retook the lead in the bottom half when Cabrera singled and scored on Prince Fielder's double.

The A's went ahead for good in the sixth. Brandon Moss hit a tying double with one out and after Chris Carter struck out and Smith was walked intentionally, Donaldson singled.