Yankees rip three homers and beat Tigers, 9-5

Joe Girardi didn't want to cast aspersions on Jeremy Bonderman. Jim Leyland preferred to move on to other questions. Brett Gardner said everything was over and done with, and Chad Gaudin said the pitch simply got away.

But former Yankee Johnny Damon wasn't quite as restrained last night after the Yankees' 9-5 win over the Tigers at the Stadium, a game Girardi called "ugly" and one that featured two hit batsmen and Leyland's ejection.

"I definitely thought they hit Miggy on purpose," Damon said of Chad Gaudin's third pitch of the eighth inning - with the Yankees leading 9-4 - that plunked Miguel Cabrera, who homered his first two times up.

Gaudin said it was a sinker in that "got away," and that "I definitely didn't try to hit anybody."

Girardi admitted under the circumstances, "it looks bad," but said he asked Gaudin "point blank" if it was a purpose pitch and the pitcher said it wasn't.

But Gardner's slide Monday night apparently hadn't been forgotten or forgiven. He was hit on the back of his right leg by Jeremy Bonderman's first pitch of the night and plate umpire Eric Cooper warned both benches.

It wasn't a stretch to think the pitch was in retaliation for Gardner's taking out second baseman Carlos Guillen on Derek Jeter's double-play grounder that ended Monday's game.

Neither Leyland nor Guillen objected Monday, with Leyland calling the slide "clean," though Guillen missed Tuesday's game with a deep bruise on his left knee and was put on the 15-day disabled list yesterday.

"I don't know if it was [intentional] or not, that's not for me to judge," Gardner said. "If they want to hit me, I'm happy with it as long as I don't get hurt."

Bonderman echoed Leyland, though with a smile, saying "Next question" when asked if the pitch was a carry-over from Gardner's slide.

Damon very much answered.

"I mean, Gardner possibly ruined, or ended, Guillen's season," Damon said. "And anyone over there [who] thought that was a clean side, we have a different opinion on that. But I thought the slide was dirty and I'm sure a lot of those guys would agree."

As for Gaudin not being ejected, Damon said, "Well, that's why the warnings are issued. Because of that, it can get players hurt in this game.''

The ugliness of the night somewhat obscured an eruption by the Yankees' bats, which produced three home runs, including back to back in the first by Mark Teixeira (one on) and Robinson Cano that gave Dustin Moseley (3-2) a 3-0 lead.

Moseley and Bonderman (6-9) each lasted five innings and each allowed three home runs. Curtis Granderson also homered for the Yankees.

With the Yankees up 9-4 in the eighth, Gaudin loaded the bases with none out. After Kerry Wood escaped a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the seventh, Girardi hoped Gaudin could mop up the final two innings. Instead, David Robertson had to bail out Gaudin - Robertson let one inherited runner score - and Mariano Rivera pitched the ninth.

"On a night I don't want to use Robertson or Mo, I have to get them in the game," Girardi said. "But Chad didn't have it tonight."

With Cody Derespina