Strong pitching enabled the Cincinnati Reds and Detriot Tigers to each open their respective playoff series with victories on Saturday night.

Here's a recap of the two games:

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Reds 5, Giants 2

SAN FRANCISCO — Sam LeCure, Mat Latos and three other relievers shut down San Francisco after Cincinnati lost ace Johnny Cueto in the first inning with a back injury, and the Reds were powered by home runs from Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce to beat the Giants 5-2 in Game 1 of the NL division series Saturday night.

Phillips hit a two-run homer in the third and Bruce added a solo drive leading off the fourth as the Reds overcame losing their 19-game winner.

San Francisco's Matt Cain allowed his first career postseason earned runs after going untouched during the Giants' improbable World Series season of 2010.

Reds skipper Dusty Baker earned an emotional win in his return for the playoffs 10 years after managing the Giants within six outs of a championship.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

Tigers 3, A's 1

DETROIT (AP) — Justin Verlander shut down Oakland after a leadoff homer, and Alex Avila went deep in the fifth inning to lift the Detroit Tigers over the Athletics in the opener of their AL playoff Saturday night.

Verlander allowed three hits in seven innings and matched his career postseason high with 11 strikeouts. As usual, he seemed stronger in the later innings, striking out the side in the sixth and the first two hitters of the seventh. That made up for Coco Crisp's home run that quieted the Comerica Park crowd just one batter into the game.

Joaquin Benoit pitched the eighth and Jose Valverde finished for the save.

Oakland's Jarrod Parker allowed two earned runs in 6 1-3 innings.

Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera went hitless.