The Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds defeated the Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Pirates in must games yesterday to stay alive in the battle for a World Series berth. Oakland now leads the American League play off series, 2-1, and Pittsburgh and Cincinnati are tied, 2-2.

Detroit's Joe Coleman shut out the Athletics, 3-0, hurling 14 strike-outs to break the playoff record of 12 set by Baltimore's Jim Palmer in 1970.

The Tigers scored two runs in the fourth inning after Oakland starter Ken Holtzman hit a wild streak. Catcher Bill Freehan, starting his first game since September 21, when he broke his thumb, capped the Tiger scoring in the ninth with a home run.

Hard-throwing Ross Grimsley overpowered the Pittsburgh Pirates with a two-hitter, winning, 7-1. Three errors by the Pirates combined with 11 Redleg hits accounted for Cincinnati's seven runs. Roberto Clemente collected both Pirate hits, including a seventh inning home run