Rodriguez’s Home Run Lifts Yankees Past Mariners
July 1, 2009 · A.J. Martelli · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
Riding a six-game winning streak, the New York Yankees made it seven consecutive wins on Wednesday night by beating the Seattle Mariners by a score of 4-2.
Tied 2-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alex Rodriguez smashed a two-run homer into Monument Park, breaking the tie and lifting the Yanks past the M’s.
For Rodriguez it was his fourth homer in the last seven games and 13th long ball of the year.
“I guess I just woke up,” he told the YES Network after the game. “To Monument Park is a long ways, and when it went out I was really happy. Right now I am just doing the best I can.”
The Yankees got their other two runs in the game with solo homers from Johnny Damon in the bottom of the third and Melky Cabrera in the bottom of the fifth.
Damon’s homer was his 15th on the year and 11th at Yankee Stadium while Cabrera’s blast was his eighth on the year.
Cabrera’s homer flew over the foul pole in left field and went under review. It took only two-and-a-half minutes before it was ruled a round-tripper.
The Mariners put their first run on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Wladimir Balentien grounded into a fielder’s choice allowing Jose Lopez to cross the plate.
Their only other run on the night came off the bat of Ken Griffey, Jr., who clubbed a solo home run to right in the top of the sixth, finishing the M’s offense in the game.
With the home run, Griffey has now left 44 different ballparks in his Major League career and has 621 lifetime home runs. It was his 10th of 2009.
Andy Pettitte took the hill for the Yankees tonight. He went seven innings, gave up two earned runs on six hits, walked one, and struck out five.
“Andy was great tonight,” Yankee manager Joe Girardi said to the media after the game.
“He got deep into the game and avoided walks. His last few starts have been very good.”
Pettitte earned his team-leading eighth win of the season, and now has a record of 8-3.
Jarrod Washburn, who started for Seattle, takes the loss and falls to 4-6.
Alfredo Aceves and Phil Coke each recorded holds while Mariano Rivera notched his 20th save of the year and 502nd of his career.
With the win tonight, the Yanks have taken the series from the Mariners and will look to sweep them tomorrow night.
CC Sabathia (7-4, 3.55 ERA) will make the start for the Yankees and take on Jason Vargas (3-3, 3.79 ERA).
Yankee Tickets
Shop Yankee
