DETROIT — This weekend, the Detroit Tigers drew more fans to Comerica Park for three consecutive games than they ever have in its seven-season history.

Brandon Inge said the 125,417 people that crammed into every nook and cranny of the ballpark — and those nonpaying customers perched on the parking garage beyond the left-field wall — witnessed a transformation.

Curtis Granderson hit a go-ahead RBI double in a three-run eighth inning and Detroit finished a three-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals with a 4-1 victory yesterday.

The Tigers have won nine of 10, maintaining the best record in baseball and holding off the Chicago White Sox in the AL Central. Just three years ago, Inge was playing for Detroit when it lost an AL-record 119 games.

"This series wraps up how much of a change it's been," said Inge, who made spectacular plays at third base to help complete the sweep. "All these years, we've been talking about being better. Finally now, with these games and with as many people that have been out, it finally seems like we're there.

"There's no fluke anymore. There's no, we'll see how they do in the first half, or after 50 games. We are a good team."

The Cardinals are, too, but they're in a rare slump — losing six straight for the first time since 2002.

"Granderson is my clutch MVP for the first half," Inge said.

The Tigers chased Sidney Ponson with two singles in the eighth, putting runners on the corners with one out before Randy Flores relieved.

Granderson then hit a double over center fielder Jim Edmonds' head, scoring Alexis Gomez.

"I try my best to not outthink it because it's really easy to think way too much, especially when you have the amount of fans out there being as loud as they are," said Granderson, explaining his mind-set in pressure situations.

Placido Polanco followed with an RBI double and Ivan Rodriguez added a run-scoring single off Brad Thompson to put Detroit ahead 4-1.

METS 7, BLUE JAYS 4

TORONTO — Jose Reyes had four hits again, including a leadoff homer, and Carlos Beltran hit a three-run shot off Josh Towers (1-9). The streaking Reyes went 4 for 5 for the second consecutive game and the third time in five days.

REDS 4, INDIANS 2

CLEVELAND — Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn each hit a two-run homer to help Cincinnati beat Cleveland. Griffey and Dunn both connected in the fourth inning. Griffey's 549th homer broke a tie with Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt and gave him sole possession of 11th place on the career list.

BRAVES 4, DEVIL RAYS 1

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Chuck James (1-0) took a one-hitter into the seventh inning of his first major league start, leading Atlanta to its fifth win in 26 games.

NATIONALS 9, ORIOLES 5

BALTIMORE — Livan Hernandez (6-8) won for the first time in four starts and Royce Clayton hit a three-run double as Washington snapped a five-game losing streak.

TWINS 8, CUBS 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Brad Radke (6-7) threw seven shutout innings to spoil Derrek Lee's return from two months on the disabled list, and Minnesota capped a three-game sweep of Chicago. Lee, who missed 59 games after breaking his wrist April 19, went 1 for 4 with two strikeouts.

ROYALS 6, BREWERS 0

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Mark Redman pitched seven sharp innings to win his fifth straight start and Kansas City beat Milwaukee for its sixth victory in seven games. Redman (5-4) gave up six hits, improving to 6-2 with a 2.49 ERA in eight starts against the Brewers.

ROCKIES 3, RANGERS 0

DENVER — Byung-Hyun Kim pitched seven outstanding innings and Jamey Carroll scored twice in Colorado's win over Texas. Kim (5-4) scattered five hits, struck out seven and walked two in the longest scoreless start of his career.

MARINERS 9, PADRES 4

SAN DIEGO — Richie Sexson went a career-best 5 for 5 with two homers, including the go-ahead shot in the eighth, to lead Seattle over San Diego.

Sexson drove in three runs and scored three times, and Ichiro Suzuki also had three RBIs.

ATHLETICS 10, GIANTS 4

SAN FRANCISCO — Jay Payton went 4 for 5 with three RBIs and Esteban Loaiza pitched his first complete game in more than two years, leading Oakland past San Francisco.

DIAMONDBACKS 9, ANGELS 7

PHOENIX — Orlando Hudson homered for the second consecutive game and drove in four runs, helping Arizona beat Los Angeles to snap a five-game losing streak.

YANKEES, MARLINS SPLIT

NEW YORK — Anibal Sanchez won his impressive major league debut, Miguel Cabrera homered and Florida beat New York 5-0 to split a doubleheader.

In the opener, Mike Mussina outpitched Dontrelle Willis, and Johnny Damon homered to snap a seventh-inning tie as New York won 2-1 for its fourth consecutive victory. Mussina (9-3) became the 28th pitcher to reach 2,500 strikeouts, allowing five hits and one run. Willis (4-7) allowed seven hits in his third complete game this season and the 14th of his career. He struck out six and walked three.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

DODGERS 7, PIRATES 4

LOS ANGELES — Nomar Garciaparra hit his 200th home run, Rafael Furcal and Ramon Martinez each had two RBIs and Los Angeles beat Pittsburgh, handing the Pirates their 11th straight loss.