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DETROIT (CBS/AP) ― Whoever coined the phrase, "Never say never," well, they weren't lying.

The overachieving Detroit Tigers eliminated the New York Yankees from the postseason Saturday behind a dominant effort from pitcher Jeremy Bonderman and a slew of offense, beating the Bronx Bombers 8-3 in game four of the American League Division Series at Comerica Park in Detroit.

It's an upset that most Yankee fans will surely soon forget, as many expected the Yankees to advance all the way to the World Series following a very impressive 2006 campaign. It's an upset that most Yankees fans surely would have never imagined, as the Tigers, who lost 119 games just three years ago and hadn't won more than 75 games in a season since 2000, came into the playoffs mired in a slump which was capped off by a sweep at the hands of the lowly, last place Royals.

"I'm stunned," New York general manager Brian Cashman said. "This team fooled me to some degree."

Bonderman overpowered the Yankees lineup, giving up just one run on five hits while striking out four over 8 and 1/3 innings. He was perfect through the first five innings.

Conversely, New York starter Jaret Wright lasted just 2 and 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on five hits. He allowed homeruns to Magglio Ordonez and Craig Monroe as Detroit jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the third inning.

By the fifth inning, the underdog Tigers appeared destined for the unthinkable when they held a commanding 8-0 lead.

"I didn't think we'd be here this year," said Leyland, who took six seasons off before signing with the Tigers last October. "All we wanted to do was look at our pieces and parts. This came a little faster than I expected."

Bonderman allowed just five singles, walking off to a thunderous ovation with an 8-1. Reliever Jamie Walker gave up Jorge Posada's two-run homer.

After the final out, the Tigers mobbed each other in the infield and carried Leyland off the field on their shoulders, a fitting ride for the first-year Detroit manager who began his baseball career as a catcher in team's system.

"He's led us through the tough times that we had this season," third baseman Brandon Inge said.

Moments later, the Tigers emerged from their clubhouse armed with champagne bottles and they uncorked them during a victory lap around Comerica Park, spraying fans who danced to Kiss' "Rock and Roll All Night."

Alex Rodriguez, who was shifted to the eighth spot in the Yankees lineup before the game, went 0-3 and was charged with a throwing error in the third inning. He finished the postseason with just one hit in 14 at-bats. Speculation will likely begin as to whether the oft-criticized and booed third baseman -- baseball's highest paid player -- will wear pinstripes next year or be traded during the offseason.

"You kind of get tired of giving the other team credit," Rodriguez said. "At some point you've got to look in the mirror and say, 'I sucked."'


Every batter in Detroit's lineup, except for leadoff batter Curtis Granderson, had at least one hit.

The Tigers advance to the ALCS to face the Oakland Athletics.

The Yankees are heading home -- eliminated in the opening round for the second straight year -- to face owner George Steinbrenner's wrath and what could be the coldest New York baseball winter in years. Steinbrenner may have big changes in store for his $200 million ballclub and galaxy of All-Stars, who haven't won a World Series since 2000.

Bernie Williams, Gary Sheffield and Mike Mussina may also bolt the Bronx.

And, New York manager Joe Torre is sure to feel some extra heat from the demanding Boss. After all, the Yankees are just 3-10 in the postseason since 2004.

"Right now, it's just tough," Torre said. "You have to be able to perform. We didn't pitch as well as we wanted to and they did. It's surprising more than disappointing."

Blanked in Game 3 by Kenny Rogers, the Yankees and their reputed Murderer's Row didn't score off Bonderman until the seventh, snapping a scoreless streak of a season-high 20 2-3 innings. This from a team which scored 930 runs during the regular season but managed just 14 in the series, getting drubbed 14-3 in the final two games.

"I just wanted to go out and attack them," Bonderman said. "I just wanted to leave everything I had on the field, and I think I did. This is the greatest thrill in the world. You can't ask for anything better."

Feeding off a frenzied crowd, Bonderman retired the first 15 Yankees in order before Robinson Cano dribbled a single through the middle for New York's first hit. Bonderman, though, wasn't about to let a big lead slip away like he did last Sunday when the Royals overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat the Tigers, a loss that cost Detroit an AL Central title and home field advantage in Round 1.

As it turns out, the Tigers and their $80-plus million payroll didn't need any such luxuries.

Bonderman pitched in shadows for the first three innings as the October sun helped hide his fastball, and the approaching darkness only seemed to make the Yankees more impatient. The right-hander needed just 31 pitches to get through the first four innings.

In the fifth, Sheffield pulled an 0-1 pitch deep to left field that missed being a home run by a couple feet. Bonderman wasn't rattled and struck out New York's hardest swinger on the next pitch. After fanning Posada for the third out, Bonderman spun around and pumped his fist.

Desperate for a win, Torre dropped Rodriguez to eighth in the batting order. It was the first time he hit that low since May 7, 1996, when he was a 20-year-old shortstop for the Seattle Mariners.

Rodriguez may wish he was back in Washington state.

Carlos Guillen then dropped a single over Cano's head at second, sending Ordonez to third. And when Ivan Rodriguez followed with an RBI single to center, the Tigers were up by four and could start planning their trip to California.

Wright won three playoff games -- two over the Yankees -- as a 21-year-old rookie for Cleveland in 1997. But nearly a decade and a couple shoulder surgeries later, the right-hander couldn't get past the third.

If the Yankees weren't already feeling the pressure, the Tigers tightened their noose around New York's necks by scoring three runs in their second at-bat.

Ordonez led off with a 422-foot shot to the deepest part of expansive Comerica, where doubles turn to triples and deep flys become easy outs. Ivan Rodriguez drew a one-out walk and Monroe, who hit two dramatic homers during the regular season, hit his second of these playoffs.

Waving orange towels that were handed out at the ballpark's gates, Tigers fans roared every chance they could. While Friday's crowd seemed skeptical about the home team's chances, this group came for a celebration.

They had wanted to party last Sunday, but Detroit's final-weekend flop against the Royals wrecked those plans. And when the Tigers lost Game 1 in New York, it seemed this feel-good ride through the summer of '06 was about over.

But the Tigers, who led the AL Central from May 15 until the final day of the regular season, got back into the series and
eventually won it going away.

Notes: Rogers, as much as anyone can sympathize with Rodriguez's plight. "I've been there," said the left-hander, whose win in Game 3 was his first in 10 postseason outings. "I get criticized as much as anybody. ... If he's taking abuse for the whole team, I think that's unfair. But that's the way it is." ... Sheffield didn't sense the Yankees being tense. "I don't see it," he said. "We believe we can win." ... Former Tigers slugger Willie Horton threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

(© 2006 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)