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Tigers can clinch division title by ending four-game skid

Oct 1, 2006 - 2:30 PM Kansas City (61-100) at Detroit (95-66) 1:05 pm EDT

DETROIT (Ticker) -- On the eve of their first playoff appearance since 1987, the Detroit Tigers are taking the difficult road to the division title.

Jeremy Bonderman will be on the hill as the Tigers try to break their four-game losing streak and capture the American League Central Division crown Sunday against the Kansas City Royals.

Having won 24 more games than last year, the Tigers can clinch the division championship with a win or a loss by the Minnesota Twins. If Detroit loses and the Twins are victorious, the Tigers will be the wild card team.

Detroit had its losing streak extended by giving up seven runs in the first inning and never recovering in Saturday's 9-6 setback to the Royals.

Bonderman (14-8, 3.99 ERA) is 4-0 against Kansas City this year and looks for his fourth straight victory overall. He yielded a run and three hits in six innings of Tuesday's 4-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays.

The Royals give the ball to Odalis Perez (2-4, 5.06), who is 6-8 overall with a 5.91 ERA this year. He did not get a decision Tuesday against the Twins after allowing two runs and seven hits in six frames.

Joey Gathright and Mike Sweeney collected three hits each on Saturday for Kansas City, which is 3-14 against the Tigers this season.