DETROIT (AP) - Manny Acta insists he didn't get thrown out of Cleveland's season finale on purpose.

The Indians manager was ejected in the first inning of Wednesday night's 5-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers, and bench coach Tim Tolman took over in his last game before moving to an undetermined role elsewhere in the organization. Tolman said before the game he has Parkinson's disease.

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Acta said after the game he wasn't trying to give Tolman a chance to manage by getting ejected.

``I would never make a mockery of a baseball game like that,' Acta said. ``If I had wanted Tim to manage, I wouldn't have gotten thrown out. I would have handed him the lineup cards and told him to manage. He didn't manage the game anyway - I managed it from the tunnel. It was just like being in the penalty box.'

After Cleveland's Asdrubal Cabrera struck out to end the top of the first, plate umpire Dan Bellino suddenly made an ejection signal toward the Indians' dugout. It wasn't immediately clear who was tossed, but it turned out to be Acta.

``I was arguing the low pitch to Cabrera and it escalated from there,' Acta said.

Miguel Cabrera singled and doubled for Detroit, wrapping up the American League batting title, and Jhonny Peralta hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning.

Peralta hit his 21st homer of the season off Vinnie Pestano (1-2) to give the Tigers the lead after Ryan Perry (2-0) allowed Cleveland to tie it at 4 in the top of the eighth.

Jose Valverde pitched the ninth for his 49th save in 49 chances.

The AL Central-champion Tigers will start the playoffs on the road against the New York Yankees on Friday night. Detroit had a chance at the No. 2 seed, but needed Texas to lose to the Angels. The Rangers won 3-1.

``It's going to be fun,' Tigers catcher Alex Avila said. ``I don't think we really cared who we were playing. You know in the playoffs you're going to play good teams.'

The Indians led 3-0, and starter Zach McAllister went five innings without allowing an earned run, but the bullpen couldn't hold on.

``It was an honor to pitch the last game of the season, and I was happy with the way I executed,' McAllister said. ``It's always good to finish strong.'

The 55-year-old Tolman said he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years ago. He spoke with reporters before Wednesday night's game.

Parkinson's disease is a degenerative brain illness that causes problems including tremors, rigidity and slow movements. It affects about one in every 500 people. There is no cure, but some drugs help control symptoms.

``I think there's some slowness of movement involved that doesn't allow me to do some of the things that I want to do,' Tolman said. ``It's time for me to step away, make sure that I'm getting the right treatment and that we keep a handle on it.'

Tolman has spent two seasons with the Indians, joining the club when Acta took over as manager. Tolman was on Acta's staff in Washington.

``He was still helpful to me, but I think he realized that it was hard on him and his family,' Acta said. ``All the traveling and all that kind of stuff. It becomes hard.'

First base coach Sandy Alomar has been picked to replace Tolman in Cleveland's dugout next season, although Alomar may be a candidate for Chicago's managerial opening now that Ozzie Guillen has left the White Sox for Florida.

Acta said he wouldn't do anything to stop Alomar from leaving for that job.

``Not if he's going to go over there and manage,' Acta said. ``We would never get in the way of people moving forward.'

NOTES: Detroit finished 15 games ahead of Cleveland, which clinched sole possession of second place in the AL Central with Chicago's loss earlier in the day. There was an impromptu celebration in the Indians' clubhouse when the White Sox lost. ... Asdrubal Cabrera was in Cleveland's lineup after Acta said the previous day he wasn't planning to play him the rest of the season. ``He came in and said he wanted to play,' Acta said. ``He wants to get out there and play the last game of the season and set the example for his teammates.'