* AMERICAN LEAGUE

Justin Verlander struck out 11 in a four-hitter to send the visiting Detroit Tigers back to the AL championship series, beating the Oakland Athletics 6-0 in the decisive Game 5 of their division series Thursday night.

After squandering two chances to clinch the series, including blowing a two-run ninth-inning lead in Game 4, Verlander became Detroit's ultimate closer.

The Tigers will face either the New York Yankees or Baltimore Orioles. Game 1 of the ALCS is scheduled for Saturday.

Verlander, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and MVP, was so sharp nobody in the bullpen ever got up to throw. He struck out 22 in his wins on both ends of this nail-biting series.

Orioles 2, Yankees 1, 13 inn: J.J. Hardy hit an RBI double in the 13th inning and visiting Baltimore bounced back from a demoralizing loss to outlast New York, forcing a deciding Game 5 in the AL division series.

After splitting 22 games this year, it all comes down this: a winner-take-all for a spot in the AL championship series today (2 p.m., TBS).

Game 1 winner CC Sabathia is set to pitch the deciding game for the Yankees. Orioles manager Buck Showalter had not announced his starter.

Eric Chavez, pinch-hitting for Alex Rodriguez, lined out to end the game shortly after midnight.

* NATIONAL LEAGUE

Giants 6, Reds 4: Buster Posey hit the third grand slam in Giants' postseason history, and San Francisco completed its startling comeback by holding off host Cincinnati in the decisive Game 5 of the NL division series.

The Giants won the final three games, all in Cincinnati, and advanced to the NL championship series. They will face either St. Louis or Washington.

Ahead 6-0, San Francisco saw the Reds rally throughout the late innings. Cincinnati scored once in the ninth before Sergio Romo struck out Scott Rolen with two runners on base to end it.

Nationals 2, Cardinals 1: Washington signed Jayson Werth to show it how to win. His game-ending homer extended the Nationals' surprising season.

Werth led off the bottom of the ninth inning by driving Lance Lynn's 13th pitch into the left-field stands to give the host Nationals a victory over defending World Series champion St. Louis and force a Game 5 in their NL division series.

The best-of-five series will end tonight in Washington (5:30 p.m., TBS), with the winner advancing to face the San Francisco Giants in the NL championship series.