CLEVELAND — The Detroit Tigers have done everything much faster than expected this season.

On Monday night, they made history in a hurry.

With a five-run first inning, Detroit became the first team in 115 years to score at least five runs in the first at-bat of three straight games, and the Tigers held on for a 9-7 win over the Cleveland Indians.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Tigers are the first team since the 1891 St. Louis Browns of the American Association to score five runs or more in the first inning of three consecutive games.

"I don't think it's impressive," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I think it's weird. It's hard to believe that it hasn't happened before. What is that, 115 years? That's hard to believe."

It's been that kind of season for the Tigers, who now lead the AL Central by 7Z\x games over the Chicago White Sox.

Detroit's fast start enabled Jeremy Bonderman (11-4) to remain unbeaten on the road this season.

Leyland has seen a lot during his baseball career, but although he found it interesting that the Tigers had scored early runs in bunches the past three games, he had no idea his team was making history.

After learning that Detroit had matched the 1891 Browns, Leyland had one more question about that St. Louis squad.

"How'd they finish?" he asked, and was told second place. "I don't like that at all."