Rodriguez slams a pair of HR as Yankees crush Tribe

Aug 12, 2007, 2:25 GMT

Cleveland, OH - Alex Rodriguez hit a pair of two-run home runs as the New York Yankees crushed the Cleveland Indians, 11-2, in the second of a three-game set at Jacobs Field.

In five games versus the Indians this year, Rodriguez is 7-for-20 with 13 RBI. Six of his seven hits are home runs.

Johnny Damon and Bobby Abreu each had two RBI while Derek Jeter went 3-for-6 with a run scored for the Yankees, who have won 10 of their last 12 games.

Mike Mussina (8-7) won his fourth straight start as he gave up two runs and eight hits with six strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings of work. It was Mussina's 100th win as a Yankee, making him the 16th Yankee to accomplish the feat. Also, he became the ninth player in MLB history to reach 100 wins with two different teams.

New York and Seattle remain in a virtual tie for the AL Wild Card spot. Seattle has two games in hand over New York.

Victor Martinez drove in both runs while Paul Byrd (10-5) was pounded for seven runs on seven hits in just two innings of work for the Indians, who have dropped three of their last four games. It was Byrd's shortest outing of the season.

The Indians took the early lead as Martinez's sacrifice fly in the first scored Grady Sizemore for a 1-0 lead.

However, the lead was short-lived as the Yankees sent 10 batters to the plate in the second and took a 7-1 lead.

Melky Cabrera got things going with a sacrifice fly to left that scored Hideki Matsui. With the bases loaded after Andy Phillips walked and Jose Molina singled, Damon blasted a double to right to score Robinson Cano and Phillips. After Jeter struck out, Abreu punched a two-run single to center and Rodriguez followed with a two-run shot that just barely made it over the wall in center.

The Yankees tacked on another run in the seventh as Phillips' sacrifice fly scored Matsui for an 8-1 advantage.

Rodriguez hit his 39th home run of the season, a two-run shot in the eighth, to give New York a 10-1 lead.

The Indians got a run in the eight as Martinez punched a double to right- center that score Asdrubal Cabrera to make it a 10-2 contest.

Jason Giambi hit a solo home run in the ninth to account for the final score.

Game Notes

The run in the first inning for the Indians was the first time they scored in the opening frame since July 17...Melky Cabrera turned 23 on Saturday. He has a 16-game hitting streak...New York catcher Jorge Posada sat out a second straight game with a sore neck...The Yankees have won all five games against Cleveland this season and 10 of 13 overall...It was Rodriguez's fifth multi-home run game of the season and 49th of his career...Asdrubal Cabrera got his first career hit...Attendance was 41,977.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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