Last-minute magic.

Since the last time I wrote, four games key to the Central Division race have been completed - three of them were won with some last-minute magic.

When I last posted, the Tribe trailed 5-3 with two out in the top of the ninth against the Twins Tuesday night. An Asdrubal Cabrera double and Travis Hafner homer later and the game was tied. The Tribe eventually won in the 11th and went on to sweep the Twins yesterday, scoring three in the ninth to break open a one-run game.

Meanwhile, with a touch of clutch (or perhaps desperation) the Tigers eked out a run against the White Sox in the 11th on Wednesday night for a 2-1 win.

Similarly, the Detroiters scored two in the ninth today off of Bobby Jenks in the bottom of the ninth to top the Sox again, this time 3-2. The Tigers were helped by an infield single-and-error combo that put leadoff hitter Timo Perez on second. A couple of well-placed bouncers into left field followed and the Tigers had a walkoff 3-2 win. The two runs were the first scored off Jenks since the Tribe touched him up for two back on July 17. Yes, July 17.

The Tribe started off the current ten-game trip with three wins in Minnesota and is in Anaheim for four with the Angles, beginning tonight. They've gained 1 1/2 games on the trip so far. With the schedule winding down if they can hold their ground against LA and the Sox they should be in very good shape when the Tigers come to Cleveland later this month.

Truthfully, if the Tribe plays .500 the rest of the way the Tigers will have to go looking for the wild card.