Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - All the Athletics apparently needed was to get to the Tigers' bullpen.

Anibal Sanchez blanked Oakland over eight innings and was two outs away from spinning a shutout before the A's rallied for a dramatic 3-1 victory on Josh Donaldson's three-run homer off Joe Nathan.

Sanchez retired nine straight prior to surrendering a one-out double to Coco Crisp in the ninth frame.

Brad Ausmus went to the bullpen with Sanchez's pitch count at 111, and Nathan (2-1) was greeted by a single off the bat of John Jaso, whose liner to third glanced off the glove of Nick Castellanos.

"If Nick catches that ball, maybe it's a different inning," Ausmus said.

Donaldson followed up with a no-doubter into the left-field seats, and the A's celebrated their second win of this four-game series.

The walk-off homer made a winner of Scott Kazmir (6-2), who went the distance for the second time in his career. He struck out eight, did not allow a walk and scattered five hits other than Torii Hunter's home run in the fourth.

"It seemed like (Sanchez) and I were going pitch for pitch," Kazmir said.

Hunter sent Kazmir's payoff pitch just over the extended wall in right-center, and the 1-0 lead stood until Detroit's starter exited.

Sanchez was charged with one run on three hits and a walk over 8 1/3 innings.