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Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera (24) walks in the dugout as four of the six main banks of lights went out during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics, Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Ben Margot, Associated Press
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Oakland Athletics' Josh Willingham, right, is congratulated by third base coach Mike Gallego after hitting a home run off Detroit Tigers' Doug Fister during the second inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Ben Margot, Associated Press
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Detroit Tigers' Doug Fister works against the Oakland Athletics during the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Ben Margot, Associated Press
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Detroit Tigers' Ramon Santiago, right, is congratulated after scoring against the Oakland Athletics during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Santiago scored on a single by Don Kelly. Ben Margot, Associated Press
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Detroit Tigers' Miguel Cabrera, right, is tagged out at home plate by Oakland Athletics catcher Landon Powell during the fourth inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Ben Margot, Associated Press
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Oakland Athletics' Trevor Cahill works against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game on Friday, Sept. 16, 2011, in Oakland, Calif. Ben Margot, Associated Press
By Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. — Newcomer Doug Fister pitched the Detroit Tigers to the AL Central title on Friday night, beating the Oakland Athletics 3-1 to secure the club's first division title in nearly a quarter-century.

Fister (9-13) retired 17 straight during one stretch to win his third straight start and fifth consecutive decision, and Wilson Betemit hit a go-ahead triple off Trevor Cahill (11-14) in the sixth. Don Kelly hit a solo home run in the seventh.

Detroit is headed to the playoffs for the first time since winning the AL wild card in 2006 and losing to St. Louis in the World Series. The Tigers (88-63) had not finished on top since winning the AL East in 1987, three years after their last World Series championship.

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Manager Jim Leyland hopes for another special postseason run with his rebuilt roster.

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