Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Bobby Crosby went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, but it was his RBI single in the bottom of the ninth that lifted the Oakland Athletics over the Detroit Tigers, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series.

After Huston Street kept the Tigers scoreless in the top of the ninth, Francisco Cruceta was greeted by a Kurt Suzuki single in the bottom half, and Suzuki moved to second when Jack Hannahan put down a sacrifice bunt. Crosby then ripped a 1-1 fastball that reached the gap in right-center, allowing Suzuki to cross the plate with the deciding run.

"I thought he might try to throw a fastball on the first pitch byut he threw a split and I looked pretty foolish," Crosby said. "Once it was 1-1, I figured here comes the fastball."

Daric Barton went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for the A's, winners in two straight after a four-game losing skid. Suzuki went 2-for-4 in drove in a run as the A's won despite going 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranding 10 men on base.

Street (1-1) picked up the win in relief of Rich Harden, who held the Tigers to two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings, striking out eight and walking three.

Curtis Granderson homered and Jeff Larish had an RBI single for the Tigers, who have lost two of three. Cruceta (0-3) took the loss in relief of Kenny Rogers, who allowed two runs on six hits in seven-plus frames, fanning three and walking four.

"That was quite a contrast in style," said Tigers manager Jim Leyland. "One young pitcher with great stuff and a masterful game from an old pro."

Hannahan led off the home first with a single, then moved to third when Crosby slapped a double to right. After Jack Cust struck out, Rogers plunked Emil Brown to load the bases and Mark Ellis lofted a fly ball to center that scored Hannahan. But the A's couldn't inflict any more damage in the frame.

Harden cruised through five innings, allowing just one hit, until Granderson tied the game in the top of the sixth with a leadoff homer to right. One out later, Carlos Guillen lined a double to right, and after Magglio Ordonez struck out, Harden intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera. Larish then made Harden pay by lining an RBI single to left to give Detroit the lead. But Cabrera was thrown out trying to reach third as the Tigers were denied the chance to tack on insurance runs.

Rogers, however, couldn't hold the lead, as Barton tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with a leadoff homer to right.

Cust walked to start the bottom of the seventh, ending Rogers' night. Freddy Dolsi came out of the bullpen and got Brown to ground into a force out, but Ellis lined a single to left and Dolsi was lifted for Bobby Seay. Carlos Gonzalez grounded into a force out that sent Brown to third, then Travis Buck walked to load the bases. Seay fell behind Barton, 3-0, but recovered to induce an inning-ending fly out and preserve the tie.