A-Rod homers as Yanks down Texas

May 9, 2007, 2:25 GMT

Bronx, NY - Alex Rodriguez blasted a two-run home run, and Andy Pettitte hurled seven solid innings as New York downed Texas, 8-2, in the opener of a three-game set at Yankee Stadium.

It was the 15th home run of the year for Rodriguez, good for the major league lead, and his first since April 23.

'We can swing the bats as well as we can be but if we don't pitch and play defense we aren't going anywhere,' Rodriguez said.

Pettitte (2-1) allowed just one run on seven hits while fanning four and walking two for the Yankees, who beat Texas for the seventh consecutive time and for the 17th time in 19 games.

Derek Jeter finished 2-for-5 with a pair of runs batted in and Doug Mientkiewicz was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.

'I need to do the little things here,' Mientkiewicz said. 'I didn't have a lot of luck in April but I feel more comfortable and I am starting to get things going offensively.'

Sammy Sosa was 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Rangers, who lost for the first time in four games. Hank Blalock was 3-for-3 with three doubles while Chris Stewart had an RBI double.

'We tried to get some momentum going but then he (Pettitte) got his groove going,' Blalock said. 'When he has that cutter and two-seam working down in the zone, he is pretty darn effective.'

Mike Wood (0-1) was ineffective on the hill for Texas and picked up the loss. The sinker-baller went just four innings and allowed eight runs -- six earned -- on nine hits.

Down 1-0 the Yankees bounced back with three runs in the home half of the third. Mientkiewicz slapped a single up the middle, moved to second on a Johnny Damon ground ball and crossed the plate when Jeter ripped a double just inside the left field line. After Jason Giambi fanned, Wood plunked Rodriguez and Hideki Matsui ripped a drive into center that Jerry Hairston Jr. badly misplayed, allowing both runners to score and make it a 3-1 game.

New York added another run in the fourth with a two-out rally. Mientkiewicz singled to left and advanced to third on Damon's two-bagger before Jeter grounded a single to left to make it 4-1. Damon was cut down at the plate on the play to end the frame.

The Yankees then put things away with a four-spot in the fifth. Giambi walked to lead off the frame and Rodriguez followed by drilling a homer deep over the wall in center. Matsui kept things going with a walk and moved to third on a Jorge Posada base hit. Rangers manager Ron Washington had seen enough of Wood at that point and went to Ron Mahay. The left-handed managed to punch out Bobby Abreu but Robinson Cano slapped a run-scoring double just out of the reach of Hairston in center before Mientkiewicz capped the inning with a sacrifice fly.

Stewart's RBI double in the ninth accounted for the final margin.

The Rangers went on top with a run in the third. Michael Young rapped a one- out double off the top of the wall in right and came around to score on Sosa's two-out RBI single. Blalock almost made it 2-0 by doubling down the right field line but Sosa was gunned down at the plate to end the inning.

Game Notes

The Texas Rangers activated closer Eric Gagne from the disabled list before the game. Gagne was sidelined with a strained right hip. He had appeared in just four games with one save before going on the shelve. To make room for Gagne on the roster, the Rangers optioned pitcher Wes Littleton to their Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma...Pettitte is now 9-7 lifetime against the Rangers in 19 starts...Rangers catcher Gerald Laird left in the seventh inning with a sore right side...Yankees manager Joe Torre was back piloting his team after serving a one-game suspension on Monday night.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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