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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 20, 2009

A-Rod powers Yankees


Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

New York's Alex Rodriguez homered for his fourth consecutive game, a two-run blast in the first inning.

PAUL J. BERESWILL | Associated Press

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NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez is quickly finding his comfort zone at the new Yankee Stadium — it's somewhere way, way out there in the left-center field bleachers.

Rodriguez and Mark Teixeira launched more long home runs, CC Sabathia dominated into the late innings and the New York Yankees beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9-1, last night for their seventh win in a row.

"I love this place," Rodriguez said. "There are so many things here you can use to your advantage."

Rodriguez homered for the fourth straight game, all in the Bronx, connecting for a two-run shot in the first inning.

"He's been a huge part of this little run we've been on," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said.

It was the 558th homer of Rodriguez's career.

Ahead 2-1 in the seventh, the Yankees broke it open with a seven-run burst. Teixeira highlighted it with his fourth homer in four games, a two-run shot.

Sabathia (4-3) again dominated the Orioles, allowing three singles in seven innings for his first home win in pinstripes.

TIGERS 4, RANGERS 0:

Dontrelle Willis (1-0), making his second start since coming off the disabled list with an anxiety disorder, allowed one hit and struck out five in 6 1/3 innings, leading host Detroit over Texas.

RED SOX 2, BLUE JAYS 1:

David Ortiz went 0 for 3 in his return to the lineup, but No. 8 hitter Jeff Bailey singled in a run and No. 9 George Kottaras drove in the other with a sacrifice fly in support of Tim Wakefield (5-2) as host Boston beat AL East-leading Toronto.

ROYALS 6, INDIANS 5:

Mike Jacobs and Mark Teahen hit back-to-back homers off closer Kerry Wood (2-1), David DeJesus tripled home pinch-runner Mitch Maier to tie it at 5 and Willie Bloomquist capped the four-run bottom of the ninth inning with a sacrifice fly to rally Kansas City past Cleveland.

ATHLETICS 4, RAYS 1:

Matt Holliday hit a three-run homer and Adam Kennedy capped a four-run top of the 11th inning with an RBI double to help Oakland rally past Tampa Bay and end its four-game losing streak.

WHITE SOX 6, TWINS 2:

Paul Konerko hit a two-run homer and Mark Buehrle (6-1) scattered two runs and eight hits over seven innings to help host Chicago snap a five-game losing streak with a victory over Minnesota.

ANGELS 6, MARINERS 5:

Bobby Abreu had three hits and a pair of RBI, and scored on an error in the fifth to break a 4-all tie to help Matt Palmer (5-0), who lasted only five innings, allowing seven hits and five runs as visiting Los Angeles beat Seattle. Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 615th career homer for Seattle.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

BRAVES 8, ROCKIES 1:

Jair Jurrjens (4-2) lowered his ERA to 1.96 by scattering three hits and allowing one run in seven innings, and Casey Kotchman had three hits and three RBIs to help host Atlanta beat Colorado. Rockies' first baseman Todd Helton became the 255th player to reach 2,000 career hits with a single in the third.

DIAMONDBACKS 5, MARLINS 3:

Jon Garland (4-2) allowed two runs and seven hits in six innings and Mark Reynolds homered leading off a five-run top of the seventh to lead Arizona past Florida for its second straight win.

CARDINALS 3, CUBS 0:

Joel Pineiro (5-3) threw a three-hitter, facing just one batter over the minimum for his first shutout in six seasons and first complete game since 2006 to help host St. Louis snap a three-game slide with a victory over Chicago.

PIRATES 8, NATIONALS 5:

Adam LaRoche had a two-run double and Brandon Moss followed with an RBI single in the top of the 10th inning as Pittsburgh won its season-high fourth straight by handing Washington its sixth loss in a row.

BREWERS 4, ASTROS 2:

Dave Bush (3-0) allowed two runs and seven hits over seven inning, Trevor Hoffman earned his 10th save, and J.J. Hardy drove in two runs, leading NL Central-leading Milwaukee over Houston for its seventh straight win.

PHILLIES 4, REDS 3:

Cole Hamels (2-2) gave up three runs on five hits over six innings to improve to 3-0 at Great American Ball Park and Jimmy Rollins' RBI double triggered a three-run top of the fifth as Philadelphia extended its winning streak to seven.

PADRES 2, GIANTS 1:

Barry Zito's (1-4) first complete game since 2003 was spoiled by home runs by Scott Hairston and Nick Hundley, which carried host San Diego over San Francisco for its fourth straight victory.

DODGERS 5, METS 3:

Chad Billingsley (6-1) gave up three runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings and Casey Blake hit a go-ahead, three-run homer off John Maine (3-3) in the bottom of the sixth inning to lead Los Angeles past New York.