Oakland Athletics vs. Detroit Tigers : Team Grades from ALDS Game 1

Of the four Division Series matchups, this one probably featured the most different teams.

The Athletics exceeded almost everyone's expectations with rookies and other youngsters, while the Tigers were on the outside looking in for most of the season despite their high expectations with superstars like Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder on the roster.

In Game 1, pitching ruled the day. Justin Verlander bounced back from a shaky beginning to strike out 11 in seven innings and Jarrod Parker gave up three runs in six and a third in his first career postseason start.

Both bullpens were effective and the Tigers earned a nail-biting 3-1 victory in the first game of the best-of-five Division Series. Here are Game 1 grades for each team.

Pitching

Athletics: B+ . For the first four innings of his first postseason start, Jarrod Parker matched Justin Verlander. He allowed two runs, but one was on a double-play groundout and the other was on an error by himself. But Alex Avila homered to lead off the fifth to open up a 3-1 lead for the Tigers and Parker exited with runners on first and second in the seventh. His final line was six and a third innings pitched, seven hits, three runs (two earned), one walk and five strikeouts.

Once he turned it over to the bullpen, Pat Neshek, dealing with the tragedy of losing his newborn child earlier in the week, stranded the runners in the seventh and received a well-deserved standing ovation from the fans in Detroit. Jerry Blevins pitched a scoreless eighth.

Overall, the Athletics pitched well tonight, but they gave up two runs too many.

Tigers: A. For the first five innings, Justin Verlander didn't have his best stuff. He gave up a leadoff home run to Coco Crisp and walked three. But he looked like the 2011 American League MVP in the sixth and seventh, when he struck out five in a row.

He ended up walking four in seven innings, but he got the job done. His final line shows seven innings, three hits, one run, four walks and 11 strikeouts, but the most important statistic in the playoffs: a win.

Joaquim Benoit relieved him in the eighth and almost allowed the tying runs to score on a deep fly ball by Brandon Moss, but he ended up pitching a scoreless inning.

Jose Valverde came in to close out the game in the ninth and retired the Athletics in order with two strikeouts.

Aside from the first hitter of the game, the Tigers completely shut down the Athletics' lineup tonight.

Offense

Athletics: F. The Athletics led the majors in strikeouts this season, so it's no surprise that A's hitters struck out 14 times tonight. What was surprising is the patience their hitters showed, walking four times even though they had a .310 on-base percentage for the season (24th in baseball).

Brandon Moss came about two feet from tying the game with a two-run homer in the eighth, but at the end of the night the A's only scored on the first batter of the game.

Tigers: B-. Even though the Tigers' lineup includes Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, it was the rest of the order that did the damage tonight.

A run scored on a Cabrera double play in the first, Quintin Berry had an RBI single in the third and Alex Avila homered in an insurance run in the fifth.

The Tigers only scored three runs, but it was enough to get the win with Justin Verlander on the mound.

Athletics' Bullpen

Grade: A+

Pat Neshek and Jerry Blevins were not given easy jobs tonight, but they each did great jobs keeping the Tigers from adding insurance runs.

Neshek came in with two on and one out in the bottom of the seventh and was able to escape the jam with a groundout and a strikeout, all the while pitching with a heavy heart in the wake of his baby's death.

Blevins came in to open the eight to face pinch-hitter Avisail Garcia, Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder and retired the side in order.

The Athletics' bullpen was charged tonight with keeping the Tigers from adding insurance runs and it succeeded with flying colors.

Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder

Grade: D

The Tigers won the game tonight in spite of Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder.

Cabrera went 0-3 with a walk. A run scored on his double play groundout in the first, but that double play kept the Tigers from scoring more than just one run in the inning.

Prince Fielder was a non-factor in his first playoff game in the American League tonight, failing to reach base in four at-bats and leaving two on base.

The Tigers were able to win thanks to their ace's dominant performance, but if the team is going to win games that Justin Verlander is not pitching in, they're going to need their offensive stars to step up.

Final Team Grades

Athletics: B-

Considering the pitcher the Athletics were facing, they actually did a pretty good job tonight.

Jarrod Parker, Pat Neshek and Jerry Blevins all did a good job shutting down a powerful lineup.

The offense only scored one run, but they're certainly not the first team to fall victim to Justin Verlander's dominant fastball.

However, they need to shed any jitters and score more runs in the next games, because if they don't, their magical season will come to an end soon.

Tigers: A-

The Tigers' offense had a poor game against inexperienced Athletics' pitchers, but they know what they need to do most times Justin Verlander is pitching: score just a couple of runs.

Justin Verlander settled down after a rough first couple of innings and struck out 11 in seven innings allowing only one run, and the Tigers scored enough to win. At the end of the night, the Tigers have a one to nothing series lead and are happy with their performance tonight.