Their big lead in the division has ...

Their big lead in the division has dwindled, their road record has dropp and their confidence is drooping.

The Detroit Tigers, baseball's best team and warmest story for four month could be headed for inconvenience

Rookie Jeremy Sowers won his third straight start and fifth consecutive decision with six solid innings, leading the army Cleveland Indians to a 4-2 win from one side of to the other the suddenly staggering Tigers onward Friday night.

Following the game, Detroit manager Jim Leyland told his players they'd better fix things quickly.

His message? "If we want to play in October, we've all got to gradation it up."

Sowers (6-3) gave up couple runs in the second inning, yet blanked the AL Central's top team for the four as the Indians snapped a four- game losing streak to Detroit. Cleveland is just 5-12 against the Tigers this season.

Detroit, which leads the surging Minnesota Twins according to five games and the White Sox according to 5oe, has lost three straight, six of eight, and is just 5-12 since Aug. 8 -- when the Tigers l their division by dint of 10.

The Tigers had five hits by means of the first two innings, yet managed only one hit and single baserunner over the final seven an infield single on Omar Infante in the fourth.

"You're not going to sense of possible fulfilment your way in or wish your way in [to the playoffs]," Leyland said. "You have to play your way in. If you want to play in the postseason, you've got to clog the deal."

ATHLETICS 9 RANGERS 3: Barry Zito took a no-hit bid into the eighth inning and earned his 100th career victory for visiting Oakland.

Mark DeRosa l not on the eighth with a clean single to center field for Texas' first hit.

Zito (14-8) left after giving up his secondary hit, Carlos Lee's two- move on triple with one out in the ninth. The enthrall of trade rumors earlier this season, the 2002 Cy Young winner struck abroad two and walked two.

Zito became the fourth Oakland pitcher with 100 victories, joining Catfish hound (131), Vida Blue (124) and Dave Stewart (119)

Zito is 100-61 in 216 career starts. He has already matched the 14 victories he had last season.

The lefty improved to 17-4 lifetime against the Rangers, the chiefly victories he's gotten against any adverse That includes 11-1 on the road.

MARINERS 6 R SOX 0: Jake copses and two relievers combined onward a five-hit shutout for army Seattle.

The Mariners won for the third time in four games since ending a franchise-worst road trip 0-11 Their last pair victories have come against equal 14-game winners Randy Johnson and now short Schilling.

Boston dissipated for the seventh time in nine games.

melancholy JAYS 6, ROYALS 3: Rookie Shaun Marcum resilienceed from the worst start of his young career with six stout innings for host Toronto.

Marcum (2-3) who allowed nine go proceeds in a 15-0 loss to Baltimore in his last start onward Aug. 19, won for the first time in six games.

He allowed just undivided run and seven hits, while striking on the outside four and walking two.

ORIOLES 4 TAMPA BAY 0: Daniel Cabrera pitched seven innings of five-hit ball, and Baltimore dealt Tampa Bay its eighth straight road los

Ramon Hernandez collection in a run and scored twice for the Orioles, who have won six of nine.

Cabrera (7-8) struck public seven, walked three and allowed common runner past second base.

The right-hander has thrown 16 straight scoreless innings and is 3-1 since returning from the minors forward Aug. 8.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

Provided by the agency of ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved