Tigers Stay Ahead Despite a 7-4 Loss

The Detroit Tigers took another step toward the Central Division title Wednesday.

It just wasn’t the step they wanted to take.

Ted Lilly pitched six strong innings and the Toronto Blue Jays hit four home runs in a 7-4 victory over Detroit, but the Tigers held on to their one-game lead when the Minnesota Twins lost to the Kansas City Royals.

“They didn’t do what they were supposed to do, but neither did we,” said Craig Monroe, who homered for the Tigers. “We can’t be happy when they lose -- we have to win games.”

Detroit’s magic number for clinching the division dropped to three. If the teams finish tied for first, the Tigers will get the division title by winning the season series 11-8.

“It’s hard to win games in this league, and we both found that out tonight,” Tigers Manager Jim Leyland said. “It’s going to go down to the wire, just like we’ve known all along.”

The Tigers (95-63) fell one game behind the New York Yankees, who beat Baltimore 16-5, for the AL’s best record.

Toronto’s victory, its 10th in 15 games, moved them ahead of Boston, which lost to Tampa Bay, and into second place in the East. The Blue Jays haven’t finished as high as second since 1993.

“The key to our game is the home run, and we hit some big ones tonight,” Toronto Manager John Gibbons said. “It wasn’t easy, but we hung in there.”

Lilly (15-13) beat the Tigers for the first time since 2003, giving up three runs -- one earned -- and five hits in seven innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out nine, giving him 21 in 15 2/3 innings against Detroit this season.

Nate Robertson (13-13) struggled in his final regular-season start, giving up six runs and 10 hits -- including four homers -- in 4 2/3 innings.