“I’m stunned,” New York general manager Brian Cashman said. “This team fooled me to some degree. Detroit was on top of their game and we weren’t, and that combination was lethal for us. I’m disappointed where we’re at now.”

Losing stung and now the Yankees will have to face owner George Steinbrenner’s wrath. He may have big changes in store for his underachieving ballclub, which hasn’t won a World Series since 2000.

One of the Yankees’ offseason moves could be trading Rodriguez, who capped another forgettable October by going 1-for-14 (.071) and going without an RBI for the second straight postseason.

“I have no one to blame but myself,” he said. “I know I certainly have to do well for this team to win.”

Bonderman allowed just five singles, walking off to a thunderous ovation with an 8-1 lead.

After the final out, the Tigers mobbed each other before turning their affection to Leyland, who began his baseball career in 1963 as a catcher in Detroit’s system.

“That was awesome,” third baseman Brandon Inge said. “That’s so deserving. I don’t know how many people have been carried off the field on their shoulders, but I tell you what, if there were a select few that deserve it, he is definitely one of them.”

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Moments later, the Tigers emerged from their clubhouse armed with champagne bottles and they uncorked them during a victory lap around Comerica Park, slapping hands and spraying fans who danced to Kiss’ “Rock and Roll All Night.”

“These fans have been here for some of the worst things,” Monroe said. “We wanted them to be able to have a party tonight.”

Magglio Ordonez and Monroe each homered off Jaret Wright as the Tigers built an 8-0 lead after six innings and coasted through the final three.

Blanked in Game 3 by Kenny Rogers, the Yankees and their reputed Murderer’s Row didn’t score off Bonderman until the seventh, snapping a scoreless streak of a season-high 20 2-3 innings. This from a team which scored 930 runs during the regular season but managed just 14 in the series, getting drubbed 14-3 in the final two games.

“You’ve got to play,” Jeter said. “You don’t win games on paper. You’ve got to come out here and perform. And they pretty much overmatched us in this series.”

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Feeding off a frenzied crowd, Bonderman retired the first 15 Yankees in order before Robinson Cano dribbled a single through the middle for New York’s first hit. Bonderman, though, wasn’t about to let a big lead slip away like he did last Sunday when the Royals overcame a 6-0 deficit to beat the Tigers, a loss that cost Detroit an AL Central title and home-field advantage in Round 1.

As it turns out, the Tigers and their $80-plus million payroll didn’t need any such luxuries.

“I just wanted to go out and attack them,” Bonderman said. “I just wanted to leave everything I had on the field, and I think I did. This is the greatest thrill in the world. You can’t ask for anything better.”

Notes: Bernie Williams, who signed with the Yankees 21 years ago, said he wants to take some time before deciding his next move. ... The Tigers’ wild clubhouse celebration included Hall of Famer Al Kaline, former Tigers slugger Willie Horton and utility infielder Ramon Santiago dancing to some Latin music. ... The Yankees’ scoreless streak was their longest since the 2000 postseason.