Tigers, Twins set for playoff

The N.L. playoff series begin on Wednesday in Los Angeles and Philadelphia.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

The chase for the AL Central championship once again is going to extra innings.

Trying to save their seasons, the Detroit Tigers and Minnesota Twins both won Sunday, leaving them all even for the division lead and forcing a one-game tiebreaker.

They’ll meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. at the Metrodome in what could be the final baseball game at the Homer Hankie haven. Detroit rookie Rick Porcello (14-9) will start against Scott Baker (15-9).

“It’s going to be fun. I’m sure Minnesota is going to be rocking,” Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson said.

This marks the second straight year a tiebreaker will decide the AL Central. Last season, the Twins lost 1-0 at Chicago.

After Detroit beat Chicago 5-3, Minnesota downed Kansas City 13-4 to create this playoff. The Twins won 16 of their last 20, and overcame a three-game deficit by winning their last four.

“Everybody’s written us off and rightfully so,” Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We looked pretty ugly. But we didn’t write ourselves off and that’s all that matters.”

The teams get an extra day off — not for travel, but because Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings host Green Bay tonight. Because of that, the logistics could become complicated.

The New York Yankees, holding home-field advantage throughout the postseason, can choose whether they want to start the playoffs against the Twins-Tigers winner on Wednesday or Thursday. The tricky part: The Yankees get one hour after the tiebreaker to announce their decision.

That means a quick turnaround for the AL Central champ if, as expected, New York picks to play Game 1 at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

“It’s strange,” Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said. “That’s what great about baseball. Play 162 and you’re going to need one more game. That’s pretty awesome.”

Boston will open at the Los Angeles Angels in the other best-of-five AL matchup.

The National League first-rounders begin Wednesday — wild card Colorado at the World Series champion Philadelphia at day, and Albert Pujols and St. Louis at Manny Ramirez and Los Angeles at night.

Ryan Howard and the East champion Phillies went 4-2 against Troy Tulowitzki and the Rockies. It’s a playoff rematch from 2007, when Colorado streaked into the playoffs and swept Philadelphia in the first round.

“They were playing so well. I don’t care who they were playing. Up to that point, no one in the NL could stop them,” Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino recalled.

Phillies manager Charlie Manuel could pick Cliff Lee, who beat the Rockies shortly after being acquired from Cleveland in July, for Game 1.

“I haven’t been told for sure, other than the fact that all the games are equally important,” Lee said. “It’s an unbelievable opportunity. It’s a chance for me to help a team potentially go back to back and reach the World Series.”