A-Rod takes power game north of the border against Jays

Sep 11, 2007, 15:16 GMT

- Alex Rodriguez tries to continue his amazing offensive season this evening when the New York Yankees kick off a three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre.

Rodriguez has homered in his last five games, belting seven in that time to increase his major league-leading total to 52. The two-time MVP, who is well on his way to a third award, hit a two-run shot on Sunday to help the Yankees to a 6-3 win over the Kansas City Royals, as the wild card front runners swept the three-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

Jorge Posada recorded two hits, drove in two runs and scored once, while Robinson Cano added a pair of hits with an RBI for the Yankees, who are 3 1/2 games up on the Detroit Tigers in the wild card race and find themselves five games behind the Boston Red Sox in the American League East.

Chien-Ming Wang (18-6) allowed five hits and three runs over seven innings for his fifth win in as many starts. He joined Boston's Josh Beckett as the only 18-game winners in the majors.

Rodriguez, who has homered in five straight games five times in his 13-year career, is batting .475 (19-for-40) with 17 RBIs and 12 runs in his last 11 contests. His 140 RBI also lead the league, as he is just the fifth Yankee to ever reach that total.

Hoping to keep the Yankees on track tonight will be 21-year-old right-hander Phil Hughes, who is 2-3 with a 5.33 ERA. Hughes pitched well in his last start on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, as he allowed two runs and five hits in six innings, but did not factor in the decision of his team's 10-2 win.

Hughes lost his only other start to the Blue Jays in his major league debut, serving up four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 frames.

Toronto, meanwhile, enters tonight's matchup on the heels of a heartbreaking loss to the Tigers on Monday, as Detroit scored four runs in the ninth, handing the Blue Jays a 5-4 setback at Comerica Park.

Roy Halladay, who had dominated the Tigers with a career 11-2 mark against them, came within one out of a complete game before being lifted. However, Casey Janssen (2-3) faltered and the Blue Jays have lost three straight and five of their last seven.

Getting the call for Toronto tonight will be Shaun Marcum, who has won his last two and seven of his last eight decisions. Marcum, who is 12-5 with a 3.74 ERA, picked up a no-decision on Wednesday against the Boston Red Sox, as he allowed two runs and five hits in five innings of his team's 6-4 win.

Marcum lost to the Yankees the last time he faced them and is 1-2 lifetime against them with a 5.28 ERA in eight games, six of which have been starts.

New York leads the season series 6-5, with the clubs splitting six games in Toronto.

© 2007 The Sports Network