(Best E Casino) - The Tampa Bay Rays can clinch their first division title in team history this afternoon when they start a four-game series with the
Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.
Tampa, which clinched its first-ever postseason berth earlier this week, enters tonight's tilt with a three-game lead over Boston in the AL East and will secure a division title with another win or a Red Sox loss.
The Rays moved one step closer to a division title on Wednesday, as Akinori Iwamura drove in three runs and Tampa Bay completed a four-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles, coming back from a six-run deficit for an 11-6 triumph at Camden Yards.
Winners in eight of its last 10 contests, Tampa Bay extended its franchise record with its 96th win of the season. Prior to this year the Rays' high water mark for wins had been 70 (2004).
Dioner Navarro had a pair of RBI and Jason Bartlett scored twice and knocked in one for the Rays, who won despite a horrific outing from Edwin Jackson (13-11).
Jackson surrendered five first-inning runs, but hung around for a 5 1/3-inning outing and allowed six runs overall on 10 hits and a pair of walks.
Hoping to pitch the Rays to a division title will be ace left-hander Scott Kazmir, who has won four of his last five decisions. Kazmir tossed six scoreless innings to beat the Minnesota Twins on Saturday, as he raised his record to 12-7 on the season, while lowering his ERA to 3.36.
Kazmir has faced the Tigers seven times in his young career, going 2-3 against them with a 4.33 ERA.
Getting the call for the Tigers today will be righty Armando Galarraga, who is 12-6 with a 3.58 ERA. Galarraga, though, hasn't won since August 19 and is 0-2 over his last five starts.
Against the Cleveland Indians last Friday, Galarraga gave up three runs and four hits in 7 2/3 innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 6-5 loss.
Galarraga did not get a decision against the Rays earlier in the year in his only other start against them. He gave up a run and four hits in seven innings of that one back on August 3.
Detroit, meanwhile, lost its sixth straight game and fell into the AL Central cellar on Wednesday with a 10-4 loss to the Kansas City Royals.
Nate Robertson (7-11) was dealt the loss after surrendering seven hits and eight runs -- seven earned -- over 4 2/3 innings. He also had control problems, walking four batters, including three in the pivotal fifth inning.
Placido Polanco belted a three-run homer and Mike Hessman added a solo shot for the Tigers, who have dropped 12 of their last 13 games.
Tampa swept a three-game set from the Tigers at Tropicana Field back in early August. Last year, these teams split their four matchups in Motown.
