A-Rod leads Yankees to 8th straight home victory

[July 22, 2008]  NEW YORK (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and an RBI single Monday night to help the New York Yankees beat the Minnesota Twins 12-4 for their eighth straight home win.

Robinson Cano hit an upper-deck drive and Derek Jeter also went deep for the Yankees, who have won four straight overall. New York's Yankee Stadium streak is its longest since it won nine straight at home in 2005.

Alexi Casilla had three hits for the Twins, but his throwing error led to three unearned runs in New York's four-run second inning.

Minnesota dropped to 3-17 at Yankee Stadium since the start of the 2002 season, losing the opener of its final regular-season series at New York's longtime home. The Twins have lost six straight series in the Bronx.

Nick Blackburn (7-6) lasted just 1 2-3 innings in his second career start against the Yankees, allowing seven hits and six runs, three earned.

Blackburn also had an early exit in his first game against New York, departing after he was drilled in the face by Bobby Abreu's line drive in the fifth inning. The rookie right-hander, who allowed just one run in that June 1 start, was left with a swollen lip and headaches but still managed to make his next scheduled start against the Chicago White Sox.

New York played without longtime catcher Jorge Posada, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with an injured throwing shoulder and could be headed for season-ending surgery. Posada was scheduled to see New York Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Tuesday to get an MRI and have his shoulder examined.

Posada said he would make a decision on surgery after talking over his options with Altchek.

"It's just really, really tough," he said. "Right now, I'm going through tough times."

Johnny Damon was activated from the disabled list and went 1-for-4 serving as the designated hitter for New York (54-45), which improved to a season-best nine games over .500. Jose Molina was behind the plate, and he snapped an 0-for-14 skid with a second-inning single and had a season-high three hits.

The Yankees chased Blackburn in the second. With the bases loaded and one out, Damon hit a grounder to second baseman Casilla, who bounced his throw to the plate. Melky Cabrera scored to give New York a 3-2 lead.

Jeter followed with an RBI single to left, Abreu drove in a run with a fielder's choice and Rodriguez singled in Damon on Blackburn's final pitch of the night.

That was enough for Sidney Ponson (6-1), who allowed three runs and nine hits in 5 2-3 innings. The right-hander improved to 2-0 in four starts since he signed a minor league deal with the Yankees on June 18.

Casilla, Carlos Gomez and Jason Kubel each drove in a run for the Twins (55-44), who dropped to 23-9 since June 13. Denard Span had three hits.

Rodriguez's first-inning homer was his 21st of the season and Cano's drive to right leading off the third was his eighth of the year. Jeter led off the sixth with his sixth homer to make it 9-3.

Notes: Yankees RHP Brian Bruney (right foot) is expected to pitch in consecutive games this week in his rehab stint with Triple-A Scranton-Wilkes Barre. ... Oft-injured RHP Carl Pavano, coming back from elbow ligament replacement surgery, could be back this year. In the final season of a $39.95 million, four-year contract, Pavano has made just 19 starts with New York. "There's certainly a chance for him to pitch in the majors this year if everything goes right," general manager Brian Cashman said. ... Cashman said Posada's injured shoulder won't change how the club approaches the trade market. The non-waiver trade deadline is July 31.

[Associated Press; By JAY COHEN]

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