Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • 46

BASEBALL SUNDAY, SEPT. 24, 2006 1 1D DETROIT FREE PRESS WWW.KREEP.COM TIGERS I Just one away from clinching a playoff berth Bonderman pitches despite sore ankle From Page ID TIGERS CORNER By JOHN LOWE FREf. PKE-SS SPORTS WRITIR Remaining games TIGERS WHITE TWINS (8) (7) SOX (7) at Bal at KC 1 vs. Sea. 1 vs.

KC 4 vs. Tor. 3 at Cle. 3 vs. (hi.

3 vs. KC 3 atMin.3 Home: 7 Home: 6 Home: 1 Road: 1 Road: 1 Road: 6 Games vs. Games vs. Games vs. teams: 3 teams: 3 teams: 3 4.

if s- I 1 --iiigiiiiitittiririiiiiiiiifiUH-iitii fully ready for the playoffs. "The more pitches I see, the more I play, the more I'm going to get used to it and try to get better with my mechanics," said Polanco, who had missed 5'z weeks with a separated left shoulder. As recently as nine days ago, it seemed the Tigers' lengthy hitting funk might jeopardize their postseason hopes. They've collectively come awake at the plate since then, but it's worth noting that Polanco was out for most of that offensive slowdown. The free-swinging Tigers missed his contact-filled, move-the-runners skills.

In a fitting tribute for his return, no one on the Tigers struck out Saturday night until the score was 15-0. Manager Jim Leyland hit Polanco ninth, instead of second as usual, to help him ease back into action. When Polanco faced Mark Redman in the first, he pulled a pair of grounders foul past third, then fouled a full-count pitch, then shot his double to the opposite field, just inside first base. Just like old times for Polanco, the league's hardest hitter to strike out. "I liked that at-bat," Polanco said.

"I took some pitches, and I accomplished what I wanted to do." He said the healed or almost-healed left shoulder "bothered me a little bit tonight." Then he added, "I think I'm past the pain stage." Polanco won't play today, because Leyland wants to make sure he doesn't overexert himself right away. If he's OK after Monday's open date, he should be able to play Tuesday and maybe several weeks thereafter. NOTEBOOK: Kenny Rogers got his 17th win. He had a 15-0 lead until John Buck hit a solo homer in the eighth. Curtis Granderson led off the first with a homer and later in the inning knocked out Redman with a two-run triple.

Granderson became the first big-league player with at least seven total bases in the first inning since Tampa Bay's Carl Crawford did it last season. It was one run short of the biggest first inning in club history. The Tigers have twice had an 11-run first in 1982 against Minnesota and in 1983 against Baltimore, which was weeks away from winning the World Series. Royals outfielder Mitch Maier, a product of Novi High School, made his big-league debut when he entered in the fifth inning. He struck out looking and grounded'out in his two at-bats, both off Rogers.

Buck's second homer in two innings was a two-run shot off Mike Maroth in the ninth. Leyland said Marcus Thames' left elbow was sore, the result of getting hit by a pitch. Contact JOHN LOWE at 313-2234053 or jloweftifreepress.com. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -Jeremy Bonderman pitched with a hindrance for at least part of his recent five-start dry spell.

"About four or five starts ago, he sprained his ankle pretty good," Tigers pitching coach Chuck Hernandez said Saturday. "I know in one game in particular I wasn't happy with the way he warmed up or threw early because of it. But I've never thought at any point has he thrown the ball poorly for any stretch." Hernandez said Bonderman injured his ankle when he tripped on a hose while performing a common duty for pitchers: carrying baseballs in batting practice. Bonderman injured his right ankle, the one on which he pushes off when he pitches. "For a couple of starts it was hard to push off, because it was really tender," Bonderman said.

"It's still not 100. It feels better. My last couple of starts it's been a lot better." Until two starts ago, Bonderman had gone five straight starts without a victory or a quality start. In each of his last two starts, he has won and made a quality start. "It's not me to use it as an excuse, so I won't even try," Bonderman said of the ankle.

"You've got to fight through things and play the game hard. It's one of those freak things that happens." Bonderman is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday and then a week from today in the final game of the regular season. If the Tigers can clinch a playoff spot soon, perhaps Bonderman will have a chance to get some extra rest before the playoffs begin. He hasn't taken any time off this season. "He hasn't missed a start, and he's our only starter who's never had more than six days off between starts," Hernandez said.

WILD SPRING: The Tigers appear headed for the playoffs, but they shouldn't expect a tamer manager Jim Leyland in spring training next year. "There won't be any half-stepping in spring training next year, I can promise you that," Leyland said. "In fact, they will work harder next spring than they did this spring. "There won't be any walking with their chests out next year in spring training like, 'Here we are, we're pretty good now, and we're veterans now and we've been through the race now and we've got all the answers now. We'll just kind of get ready for the I can promise you that won't go on.

"I'll be a maniac next spring. I'll be a wild man." TEAM HARMONY: As an example of the Tigers' unity and spirit, consider what Zach Miner said Friday night after he got a key out to preserve Wil Ledez-ma's victory over the Royals. It was Ledezma who recently replaced Miner in the rotation. "We're friends," Miner said. "I pull for him like I pull for everybody else.

Just because he was thrown in the spot I was occupying doesn't make me feel any ill will toward him at all. "We're all teammates. I'm trying to get outs when I'm in there, and I'm hoping he gets outs when he's in there, no matter what the roles are." Photos by JULIAN H. GONZALEZDetroit Free Press Kenny Rogers pitched eight innings, allowing one run on five hits, for his 17th win this year. 8 ti i.

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