A-Rod goes for 50th homer in Yanks' matchup against Royals

Sep 8, 2007, 14:46 GMT

- Alex Rodriguez could become just the fourth player in Yankees history to reach 50 home runs this evening when New York resumes its three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Rodriguez belted his major league-leading 49th homer and finished 3-for-4 on Friday to help the Yankees pull out a 3-2 win in the opener of this set. Bobby Abreu knocked in the go-ahead run in the seventh and Jorge Posada added a home run for the Yankees, who have won three straight games and hold a three-game lead in the AL wild card race over Detroit.

The Rodriguez homer, a lead-off shot in the second, was the 513th of his career, passing both Ernie Banks and Eddie Mathews for sole possession of 17th place on the all-time list. One more home run and A-Rod, who has homered in his last three games and has five home runs in his last six contests, will join Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris as the only Yankees to ever reach 50 in a season.

Kyle Farnsworth (2-1) earned the win by pitching a scoreless inning. Ian Kennedy, in his second major-league start, allowed seven hits and two runs with three walks and a pair of strikeouts over five innings.

Joba Chamberlain was again brilliant for the Yankees, tossing two more scoreless innings, while Mariano Rivera retired the side in order in the ninth for his 24th save.

Neal Musser (0-1) took the loss, charged with the Yanks' go-ahead run in two- thirds of an inning in relief. Royals starter Gil Meche gave up two runs and five hits over six innings in the no-decision.

Alex Gordon went 2-for-4 and scored a run for the Royals, who have lost three in a row.

Getting the call for the Yankees this evening will be reliable left-hander Andy Pettitte, who is 12-8 with a 3.82 ERA on the season, but had a six-start losing streak stopped in his last outing. Against the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Sunday Pettitte allowed five runs and 11 hits in 6 1/3 innings to absorb the loss.

Pettitte has faced the Royals 18 times (16 starts) and is 10-3 against them with a 3.17 ERA.

Kansas City will counter with Brian Bannister, who is 12-7 with a 3.16 ERA. Bannister, though, won his fourth straight start on Sunday in Minnesota, as he held the Twins to a run and six hits in eight innings.

This will be his first-ever appearance against the Yankees.

The Yankees have won seven of eight from the Royals this season, including four of five in KC. New York is also 14-3 in the last 17 meetings.

© 2007 The Sports Network