Athletics 3, Tigers 1: Josh Donaldson launched a walk-off three-run homer with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift host Oakland to a dramatic win.

The blast ended a phenomenal pitchers' duel between Scott Kazmir (6-2), who got the win after allowing just one run and striking out eight in his first complete game in nearly eight years, and Detroit starter Anibal Sanchez. The Tigers removed Sanchez with one out in the ninth clinging to a 1-0 lead before the Athletics completed a rally against closer Joe Nathan (2-1).

Torii Hunter hit an opposite-field home run off Kazmir in the fourth to provide all the offense over the game's first eight frames. Sanchez was charged with one run on three hits and struck out nine while issuing just one walk for Detroit, which fell for the eighth time in 10 games following a 27-12 start.

Kazmir's 103rd and final pitch was tagged into the gap in left-center field by Miguel Cabrera, who was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a double to end the top of the ninth. Sanchez got the first out in the bottom half before Coco Crisp doubled to end the night for the Tigers right-hander after 111 pitches.

John Jaso greeted Nathan with a base hit off the glove of third baseman Nick Castellanos to place runners at the corners. Donaldson then pounced on the first pitch he saw from Nathan, smacking a shot that stayed just fair down the left-field line as Oakland secured at least a split of the four-game series, which concludes Thursday afternoon.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Tigers OF Rajai Davis left in the seventh inning with a left shoulder contusion. ... Kazmir's only other complete game was July 3, 2006 vs. Boston. ... Sanchez has allowed six hits in 15 1/3 innings in two career starts at Oakland.