Pudge's bat keeps Bonderman unbeaten in Tigers' win

Tigers 12, Phillies 8

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Jeremy Bonderman gave manager Jim Leyland an anxious moment legging out an infield single and running around the bases. The way the Tigers are hitting, their pitchers are better off not swinging during interleague play.

Ivan Rodriguez drove in five runs and Sean Casey had four hits and three RBIs to help Bonderman stay unbeaten in Detroit's 12-8 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

Jimmy Rollins hit a pair of solo homers and Ryan Howard, Greg Dobbs and Shane Victorino also connected for the Phillies, who fell three games behind the NL East-leading New York Mets.

Bonderman (7-0) allowed five runs and nine hits in six-plus innings. After getting a no-decision in his first five starts, the right-hander has won his last seven outings.

Bonderman also started the Tigers' five-run fifth inning with his first career hit in 21 at-bats, barely beating out a bouncer to third base off Jon Lieber (3-5). Curtis Granderson followed with a single to right and Placido Polanco singled off Lieber's pitching hand to load the bases.

Gary Sheffield's sacrifice fly to right put the Tigers up 3-2. Magglio Ordonez doubled in a run and Rodriguez hit a three-run shot to center field with two outs to make it 7-2.

Bonderman's hit and his adventure around the bases drew some laughter in the dugout.

"It was a good-hustle hit," Casey said. "He was definitely a station-to-station runner."

Leyland was thankful Bonderman didn't get hurt on the base paths. He has eight more games without a designated hitter in NL parks.

"I'm glad his hamstring was still in place," he said.

Bonderman was exhausted after his romp.

"I'm not used to running like that. It takes a lot out of you," he said. "That's as fast as I can run, which isn't very fast."

Lieber gave up seven runs -- six earned -- and 10 hits in five innings. In his last three starts at home, Lieber is 0-3 with an 8.64 ERA and has allowed 33 hits in 16 2/3 innings.

"I stunk," Lieber said.

Rodriguez hit a two-run single and Casey added a two-run double against Francisco Rosario to give the Tigers a six-run cushion in the sixth.

A two-run homer by Victorino in the seventh and an RBI triple by Rollins in the eighth cut the lead to 12-8, but the rally stalled.

The Phillies now have lost the first game of a series following each of their three sweeps this season.

Rollins gave the Phillies a 1-0 lead with a long drive that nearly hit his name on the auxiliary scoreboard on the face of the second deck in right field. It was his 20th career leadoff homer and third this season.

Howard made it 2-0 two batters later with an even longer shot that landed in the second deck.

But the Tigers scored twice with the help of sloppy defense in the second. Guillen led off the inning with a single. Rodriguez hit a double to left-center that bounced off center fielder Aaron Rowand's glove.

After Casey's RBI single, it appeared Lieber could work out of the jam with runners at first and third. He struck out Brandon Inge and Bonderman. But with Howard playing behind the bag at first base, Lieber inexplicably made a wild pickoff throw to allow Rodriguez to score.

"It was a fake pickoff. He wasn't supposed to throw," manager Charlie Manuel said.

Game notes
Howard has 14 homers, including 11 in his last 22 hits. ... With 13 homers, Rollins is on pace to hit 31. His career-best was 25 last year. ... Casey finished 4-for-5. He had three hits off Lieber and is 20-for-41 lifetime against him. ... Victorino stole his 19th straight base without being caught. ... The five homers were a season-high for the Phillies.