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 yesterday, leaving them all even for the division lead and forcing a one-game tiebreaker.

They'll meet tomorrow at 5 p.m. EDT (11 a.m. Hawai'i time) 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 Justin Verlander (19-9) won his 19th game to lead Detroit past Chicago, 5-3, Minnesota downed Kansas City, 13-4, behind a pair of three-run homers by Jason Kubel 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. EDT (noon Hawai'i time).

"It's strange," Yankees star Alex Rodriguez said. "That's what's 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, either Wednesday or Thursday.

The National League first-rounders begin Wednesday — wild card Colorado at the World Series champion Philadelphia Phillies by day, and Albert Pujols and St. Louis at Manny Ramirez and the Los Angeles Dodgers 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," recalled Phillies center fielder and Maui native Shane Victorino. "They came in and walked right through us in three games."

NOTES AND NOTABLE GAMES

GIANTS 4, PADRES 3, 10 INNINGS:

Randy Johnson made what could be the last appearance of his brilliant, 22-year big league career, pitching one inning of relief in San Francisco's victory over host San Diego yesterday.

Although the Big Unit gave up an unearned run in the seventh that tied it at 3, Pablo Sandoval provided the go-ahead run when he homered on the first pitch of the 10th inning off Ryan Webb (2-1).

The 46-year-old Johnson said Thursday that he'll take his time in the offseason deciding his future. The 303-game winner has said he might be done if he can't return as a starter.

MARINERS 4, RANGERS 3:

Felix Hernandez (19-5) allowed three runs in 6 2/3 innings to finish tied for the major league lead with 19 wins and host Seattle beat Texas yesterday in a season finale that doubled as a daylong tribute to Ken Griffey Jr.

The 39-year-old Seattle icon finished his one-year contract with the Mariners by going 1 for 4. Griffey has said he would be interested in playing another season if the team wants him.

Gonzalez watch: Marlins president David Samson says manager Fredi Gonzalez will be evaluated at the end of the season and he is not aware of any talks with Bobby Valentine.

www.ESPN.com has reported that former Mets manager Valentine is talking about taking a position with the team. Gonzalez signed a two-year extension in spring training and is signed through 2011.