DETROIT — Three years ago, they lost 119 games and were a punchline. You know, the Detroit Tigers ... ha, ha, ha.
Funny game, baseball.
The Tigers are the ones laughing loudest now. And the New York Yankees? Well, they’re the joke.
Jeremy Bonderman was perfect for five innings and sublime for 81/3 in leading Detroit to an
8-3 victory in Game 4 on Saturday to win the AL Division Series and eliminate A-Rod, Derek Jeter and the other high-priced, high-profile Yankees.
“I didn’t think we’d be here this year,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. “All we wanted to do was look at our pieces and parts. This came a little faster than I expected.”
Days removed from being swept by last-place Kansas City on the final weekend of the regular season, the wild-card Tigers clawed their way back from an 0-1 deficit to win a series many thought would be severely lopsided.
Those predictions were correct: The Yankees didn’t have a chance.
“You kind of get tired of giving the other team credit,” slumping third baseman Alex Rodriguez said. “At some point you’ve got to look in the mirror and say, ‘I sucked.’ ”
For the second straight year, the Yankees were eliminated in the first round, their galaxy of All-Stars sent home.
Magglio Ordonez and Craig Monroe each homered off Jaret Wright as the Tigers built an 8-0 after six innings and coasted through the final three.
Mets 9, Dodgers 6
LOS ANGELES — Shawn Green and the hitters started fast, Billy Wagner closed it out quickly and now the New York Mets are headed to the NL Championship Series.
A dominant offense and reliable bullpen led the way as the Mets completed their first postseason sweep since 1969, beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-5 in Game 3 Saturday night.
After rolling in the first round, the Mets will open the NLCS at Shea Stadium on Wednesday against the San Diego-St. Louis winner. The Cardinals lead 2-1 in that best-of-five series.
Shawn Green had three hits and two RBIs against his former team in a game decided by the bullpens after starters Steve Trachsel and Greg Maddux made earlier exits.
Jeff Kent had four hits, including a two-run home run, for Los Angeles.