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Rodriguez, Casey help Bonderman win seventh straight

Jun 16, 2007 - 4:09 AM PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Philadelphia Phillies displayed plenty of power, but Ivan Rodriguez and Sean Casey were electric for the Detroit Tigers.

Rodriguez went 3-for-5 and drove in five runs and Casey collected four hits and three RBI as the Tigers offset five home runs by the Phillies and helped Jeremy Bonderman extend his winning streak to a career-high seven games with a 12-8 triumph on Friday.

Curtis Granderson added two hits and scored three times for the Tigers, who have won four of six games and improved to 7-3 in interleague play this season.

"It is not very often that you give up five home runs and win the game, but we are a good offensive club, too," Detroit manager Jim Leyland said.

Entering with wins in seven of their previous nine contests, the Phillies began their power surge in the very first inning as Jimmy Rollins led off the frame with his 12th homer of the season. Reigning National League MVP Ryan Howard added a solo shot with two outs for a 2-0 lead.

But after knotting the contest in the second inning, Detroit moved ahead for good with a five-run outburst in the fifth. Bonderman ignited the rally with a leadoff infield single, and Granderson and former Phillie Placido Polanco followed with base hits to load the bases.

"They have just as much offense as we do. From top to bottom, they're a great team. Sometimes you get outpowered," Howard said.

Gary Sheffield gave the Tigers a 3-2 edge with a sacrifice fly before Magglio Ordonez delivered a two-run double. After Carlos Guillen struck out, Rodriguez launched a 1-2 offering from Philadelphia starter Jon Lieber over the center field wall for his seventh blast of the campaign and a 7-2 advantage.

"Those are things we have been doing all year, getting key hits in key situations," Rodriguez said. "When we need a base hit, either Magglio, myself or Gary, or the other guys in the lineup come through, and we have to keep doing that."

"They got a real good offense," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said. "A lot of their hitters put the ball in play. They don't strike out a whole lot. Those are tough hitters. They got a good, balanced lineup."

Rollins belted his second homer of the game - also a solo shot - in the fifth, but Casey followed Rodriguez's two-run single in the sixth with a double that plated two more, providing Detroit with an 11-3 cushion.

Gregg Dobbs hit a solo blast with two outs in the sixth and Shane Victorino swatted a two-run shot off reliever Tim Byrdak in the seventh for the Phillies' season-high fifth home run of the game.

Rollins plated Carlos Ruiz with a triple after the catcher hit an RBI double in the eighth, drawing Philadelphia within 12-8.

But it was not enough to prevent Bonderman from winning his seventh consecutive start after beginning the season with five no-decisions.

"I pitched well in a couple of them, and others I pitched decent, giving up runs late," Bonderman said. "I have a great team behind me, and they make plays and get me a whole bunch of runs. All I have to do is go out there and give them a chance to win."

Bonderman (7-0) again benefited from superb offensive support, gaining the victory despite allowing five runs and nine hits -including four homers - in six-plus innings. The Tigers have scored a total of 72 runs during the winning streak by Bonderman, who walked one and struck out five.

"Sometimes it just happens," Casey said of Bonderman's run support. "Guys fall into this slot where your offense is getting you runs when you are pitching, and this is just one of those runs for him."

"He was not at his best, but he was OK," Leyland said. "The four home runs were solo shots."

Coming off a three-hit gem he tossed against Kansas City on Saturday, Lieber (3-5) suffered his third loss in four outings. The veteran righthander was reached for seven runs - six earned - and 10 hits in five innings.

"I lost us the ballgame tonight," Lieber said. "That's it. I just stunk. I blew it for this ballclub."

"It was big for us to put up the runs tonight," Casey said. "They put up a lot of runs, too, so for us to get off to a good start is good. We know it is one win and it is a long road trip coming up. Tomorrow, we have to come out and do it again."