A-Rod bangs 44th HR as Yankees edge Red Sox

Aug 30, 2007, 3:29 GMT

Bronx, NY - Alex Rodriguez's homer in the seventh inning, his 44th of the year, proved to be the winning run, and Roger Clemens gave up two hits over six frames, as the New York Yankees held off the Boston Red Sox, 4-3, to move within a percentage point atop the American League wild card standings.

Melky Cabrera went 3-for-4 with a run batted in and a run scored for the Yankees, who won their second straight in the series and moved within six games of first-place Boston in the AL East. Johnny Damon singled in a pair of second-inning runs for the Yankees, who out-hit the Sox, 14-4, and will pursue the series sweep when Chien-Ming Wang faces Boston's Curt Schilling on Thursday.

'I couldn't believe we had 14 hits,' Rodriguez said. 'We've been able to bounce back numerous times, but two good games, we have to make sure we get one tomorrow.'

Clemens (6-5), coming off a no-decision on Friday against Detroit, allowed one run on two hits with a season-high five walks and a pair of strikeouts over six innings, the first five through which he carried a no-hitter.

With Seattle getting swept by the Angels on Wednesday, New York (74-59) is now within one percentage point of the Mariners (73-58) in the AL wild card race.

Homers by David Ortiz and Kevin Youkilis accounted for the runs for Boston, which dropped the opener of this set, 5-3, on Tuesday. Left fielder Manny Ramirez, who left Tuesday's tilt in the seventh with a strained left oblique, was replaced in the lineup by Eric Hinske for this game.

'I don't think it (Ramirez's absence) is going to be a couple of days,' Boston manager Terry Francona said. 'It's more likely to be multiple days as opposed to tomorrow like we originally thought. The MRI results were good, but he's still not able to play.'

Boston starter Josh Beckett (16-6), who had won his previous three decisions, allowed four runs on a career-high 13 hits with a walk and six strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings.

Holding a 3-1 lead, New York plated the eventual game-winner in the seventh on Rodriguez's solo shot to left field for his 508th career long ball, tying Frank Thomas at 20th on the all-time list, and prompting Beckett's exit. Javier Lopez took over on the mound and scattered a single to Hideki Matsui and walked Jorge Posada before Mike Timlin came in and induced an Andy Phillips popout.

'It all comes down to one pitch,' Beckett said. 'Stupid pitch to a stupid spot to a smart hitter.'

Boston rallied for two runs off reliever Kyle Farnsworth, who surrendered a base hit to Mike Lowell and a two-run homer to Youkilis on the first pitch the first baseman saw. After a coaching visit to the mound calmed Farnsworth enough to strike out J.D. Drew swinging, the reliever walked Jason Varitek. New York manager Joe Torre brought on closer Mariano Rivera, who got Coco Crisp to ground out and end the inning before retiring three straight in the ninth for his 22nd save in 25 chances this season.

The Yanks put up three runs in the second when Posada singled and Robinson Cano walked with two outs. Cabrera then grounded an RBI single into center field before racing to second on a wild pitch by Beckett, who surrendered a two-run single to Damon.

The pitcher got himself into more trouble when Derek Jeter singled and reached second as Beckett committed a throwing error. With runners in scoring position, he escaped the inning by inducing Bobby Abreu to ground out.

Ortiz got Boston on the board in the sixth when he sent a hanging splitter from Clemens just inside the right field pole for his fourth homer in five games and 25th on the season. With two outs, Youkilis walked and Drew's single put runners at the corners, but Clemens avoided further damage by inducing Varitek to ground out up the middle.

The Yanks loaded the bases in the home half on three singles by Posada, Jason Giambi and Cabrera, all of whom were left stranded by Damon's groundout.

Game Notes

Clemens, who spent the first 13 years of his career in Boston, is 9-5 against his former team in 20 starts, and last faced the Sox in Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship series...These clubs have split 14 matchups this season, and eight meetings in the Bronx. New York has won the season series from the Red Sox the last two years.

© 2007 The Sports Network

Game Notes

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