Rodriguez powers Yankees past Orioles

Sep 12, 2006, 3:05 GMT

Baltimore, MD - Alex Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with a solo home run and two RBI to lead the New York Yankees to a 9-6 victory over the Baltimore Orioles to wrap up a four-game series at Camden Yards.

Robinson Cano had three RBI and Randy Johnson (17-10) won his third straight start as he gave up five runs on nine hits with six strikeouts in six innings for the Yankees, who have won three straight and four of their last five.

New York shortstop Derek Jeter extended his hitting streak to 21 games in the first inning with a single and finished the game 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Melvin Mora went 2-for-5 with two RBI and Chris Gomez had three hits, an RBI and a run scored for the Orioles, who have lost three straight and seven of their last eight. Jim Hoey (0-1) picked up the loss for blowing a three-run lead in the seventh. Rodrigo Lopez started on the mound and was charged with two runs on five hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings.

New York was trailing 5-2 going into the seventh, but scored six runs in the inning to assume the lead.

Hoey replaced Lopez to start the frame, but immediately got into trouble. He hit Aaron Guiel with a pitch, but got Melky Cabrera to hit a grounder that got Guiel out at second. However, Hoey issued a walk to Johnny Damon and a single to Jeter to load the bases.

Bobby Abreu knocked a sac fly that scored Cabrera for the second out of the inning. However, Rodriguez singled to score Damon and Jorge Posada was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Cano, who knocked a double over the head of left fielder Fernando Tatis to clear the bases. Bernie Williams followed with a single to score Cano for an 8-5 lead.

Baltimore got a run back in the eighth on a one-out home run by Ramon Hernandez, but New York got the run right back in the ninth on Rodriguez's 32nd home run of the season, a solo shot to right, for a 9-6 lead.

Kyle Farnsworth worked around a one-out single in the ninth to pick up his fourth save of the season.

The Yankees grabbed the lead in the second with two runs. With runners on first and second and one out, Cabrera punched a single to center on a hit-and- run play and Williams easily crossed the plate and Guiel made it to third. Damon followed with a sharp liner that shortstop Miguel Tejada knocked down and got the force at second, but Guiel scored for a 2-0 lead.

The Orioles scored in the third to make it a 2-1 game. Tatis led off the inning with a shot over Abreu's head. Cano grabbed the relay throw and tried to nail Tatis at third, but the ball went high and Tatis made it home.

Baltimore took the lead with three runs in the fifth inning. After Brian Roberts' sac bunt put runners at second and third with one out, Mora knocked a single to center to score Gomez and David Newhan. Mora moved to third on Nick Markakis' single and crossed the plate on a sac fly by Tejada for a 4-2 lead.

The Orioles made it a 5-2 game on Gomez's RBI double in the sixth that scored Kevin Millar.

Game Notes

Jeter is 35-for-87 (.402) during his hitting streak.

Johnson, who celebrated his 43rd birthday on Sunday, is 10-7 in 30 games (28 starts) against Baltimore.

New York first baseman/designated hitter Jason Giambi sat for a third straight game with a sore right wrist.

New York owns a 10-6 advantage in this year's season series with the Orioles, including a 7-3 mark at Camden Yards. The Yankees are 25-12 in Baltimore since the start of the 2003 campaign.

Joe Torre picked up his 1,068th win as Yankee manager, passing Miller Huggins for third place on the team's all-time list.

© 2006 The Sports Network