Detroit ? The television was tuned to another channel in the Tigers clubhouse when Detroit’s division-title hopes disappeared.

Moments after their 7-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals, the Tigers were eliminated from the AL Central race when Cleveland beat Oakland. But Jim Leyland’s office TV was off, and the players were watching the Lions-Eagles game.

“I knew it was getting close, but I wasn’t even sure if they could do it today,” outfielder Curtis Granderson said. “It’s disappointing, but we knew it was coming.”

The defending AL champions still have an outside shot at the wild card, but after the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 7-5, the Tigers were 51â2 behind with six games to play. They aren’t counting on a New York collapse in the final week to reach the postseason. That’s why Leyland rested Magglio Ordonez, Gary Sheffield and Ivan Rodriguez.

“I almost feel like apologizing to the fans for having so many guys out on Fan Appreciation Day, but we’ve got a lot of banged-up players and I want to protect them,” Leyland said. “Playing 162 games is really a grind.”

Leyland didn’t rest All-Star Justin Verlander, though, and he responded with his 18th win, aided by a pair of Marcus Thames homers.

“We’re not giving up – we’re going to play hard the rest of the year,” Thames said. “I’m going to keep trying to hit the ball hard.”

Verlander (18-6) allowed two runs, five hits and two walks in six innings. He has 35 wins in his first two full seasons, the most for a Tigers pitcher since Frank Lary also had 35 from 1955-56.

“He learns something every time he’s out there,” Leyland said. “He’s going to be special.”