DETROIT - The Detroit Tigers beat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 on Saturday to sweep the American League Championship Series 4-0 and reach the World Series for the first time since 1984.

Detroit Tigers players Neifi Perez (from L-R), Carlos Guillen and Ivan Rodriguez celebrate their win in game 4 of their ALCS playoff baseball series over the Oakland Athletics with a victory lap around the field in Detroit October 14, 2006. The Tigers won the ASCS and advanced to play in the World Series. [Reuters]

A dramatic three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth inning by Tigers right-fielder Magglio Ordonez broke a 3-3 tie to clinch the sweep, sending a raucous crowd of almost 43,000 towel-waving Detroit fans to their feet.

Heavy underdogs to make the playoffs at the start of the season, the Tigers have now won seven straight post-season games, knocking out the New York Yankees and the A's.

The playoff winning streak is the longest ever for the Tigers, who had sunk to the level of a sports punch line after 12 straight losing seasons, including a staggering 119 losses just three years ago.

Detroit now face the winner of the best-of-seven National League Championship Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Mets.

Oakland jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, its biggest of the series against Detroit.

But the Tigers clawed their way back in the fifth inning when Curtis Granderson doubled to right center, driving in Brandon Inge.

Detroit Tigers pitcher Kenny Rogers (R) celebrates by spraying champagne in the clubhouse with teammate Jason Grilli (L) after their team defeated the Oakland Athletics 6-3 in Game 4 of their ALCS playoff baseball series in Detroit October 14, 2006. The Tigers advance to play in the World Series. [Reuters]

A long, arcing fly hit by Detroit left-fielder Craig Monroe then caught a cross-wind and fell short of a sliding catch attempt by Oaklands's Jay Payton, scoring Granderson.

Ordonez added his second post-season home run to tie it up at 3-3 in the bottom of the sixth.

With two outs, two runners on and a chance to send his team to the World Series, Ordonez drove a pitch from Oakland closer Huston Street 385-feet into the seats in left-center field for the game-ending home run.

"I was just standing on the line, savoring the moment," Ordonez told reporters as he showered his team mates with champagne and ice. "I knew it was gone."

POLANCO MVP

Tigers second-baseman Placido Polanco, who missed a month and a half of the season with a separated shoulder, was named Most Valuable Player of the series.

Polanco batted .529 in the ALCS and went 3-5 on Saturday to extend his post-season hitting streak to nine games.

"This is by far the best moment of my career," Polanco said. "It feels great to win, to go to the World Series. We know we still have one more to go, and without a doubt, you've got to give the A's credit."

Oakland drew momentum early from a strong start by right-handed pitcher Dan Haren, who struck out six of the first 10 batters he faced.

"You have to give him a lot of credit. He had us off balance," Monroe said. "But we didn't get our heads down, we kept grinding it out, and that's what it's going to take to win a World Series."

Street faced nine batters after Oakland manager Ken Macha gambled by turning early to his closing ace.

Tigers manager Jim Leyland is heading to the World Series for the second time after taking the Florida Marlins to the championship in 1997.

"I think early on in spring training, we had a lot of good players. We didn't have a good team," Leyland said. "And today I can make the statement that we've got a good team, and that's the thing I'm the proudest of."

The first game of the World Series will be at Detroit on Saturday, allowing more rest for Detroit's hard-throwing closer Joel Zumaya, who is recovering from a swollen arm.

The Tigers beat the San Diego Padres in their last World Series appearance with a sweep completed exactly 22 years ago.