Central Heating: Tigers Are Getting Warmer

The Tigers submitted a letter of intent to win the Al Central on Tuesday, as Curtis Granderson made the kind of diving catch we all fantasized about in our backyard when we were 10 ... or, um, in my case, I'll admit, last weekend (your fantasy may vary).

Granderson's lunging grab in the eighth kept it tied, and Magglio Ordonez hit a three-run homer in the 10th as Detroit moved one game ahead of Cleveland with a 6-2 win. Tigers' manager Jim Leyland, of course, was elated: "Don't get excited. It's only August 14," then he stubbed out his cigarette on a reporter's open notebook, which I think we can all agree was just unnecessary. Your Fernando Rodney update: Gave up a leadoff double in the ninth, then struck out the side. F-Rod!

• Oops. Perhaps mourning their fallen NBA brethren from the Seattle Center, the Mariners fell at the hands of pitcher Matt Garza (!) in an 11-3 loss to the Twins. Jason Bartlett (!!) homered in the fifth as Seattle fell to 66-51, still a percentage point ahead of the Yankees (67-52) in the wild card race.

• Objects In Mirror May Be ... Holy Crap ... After 19 hits and a 12-4 win over the Brewers on Tuesday, the Cardinals pulled to within 4 1/2 of first-place Milwaukee, and three of the second-place Cubs (6-5 losers to the Reds). Dare we dream? (Ed. Note: No. Shhhh.)

• Astros 7, Dodgers 4. LA's Mark Sweeney, who had singled, was leading off the base with one out in the ninth when Juan Pierre hit a popup to catcher Brad Ausmus in foul territory. Sweeney naturally ran to second while the ball was in the air, resulting in the seldom-seen-in-the-wild game-ending 2-3 double play. Thanks folks, please drive safely.