The Tiger's Magic Number is SIX

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

They made it through the weekend series with Chicago relatively unscathed.

The Detroit Tigers lost two out of three games to the White Sox, but remain two games on top of Minnesota, who lost to the Royals today, 4-1.

Last night's come-from-behind victory, 12-5, was big. Huge. It even caused a usually mild (sarcasm intended) Ozzie Guillen to go on a rant during the post game press conference.

But, what a difference a day makes. The effort this afternoon fell a little short (as much as we had hoped it wouldn't). Detroit lost, 8-4.

The Twins have kept pace with the Tigers. Unfortunately, they are not going away any time soon. By the way, they lost this afternoon, too, amidst our collective sigh of relief.

"They're just not losing," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said. "They're putting good pressure on us. If you handle it right, it's good pressure. If you handle it wrong, it's bad pressure."

As the "magic" number to clinch their first ever Central Division title fell to six, the biggest series of the year loomed just over the horizon. Beginning tomorrow night in Detroit is a crucial four games series with the Twins.

"It's a very crucial time," Inge said. "I would say as close to a playoff game as you can get without actually being a playoff game, so you just have to go out there and have some fun with it."

Buckle up, kiddies. Here we go. The next four games will decide the division. By Thursday, we will know the direction we are heading. I'm ready for this. I hope you are, too.

It doesn't get better than this!

GO TIGERS!!