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Rodriguez's game-winning slam lifts Yankees past Orioles

Apr 7, 2007 - 10:33 PM BRONX, New York (Ticker) -- For at least one day, Alex Rodriguez slammed his critics.

Rodriguez blasted a grand slam with two outs in the ninth inning as the New York Yankees rallied for a 10-7 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

A two-time MVP and 10-time All-Star, Rodriguez has been dogged by non-stop criticism for failing to deliver in the clutch with the Yankees.

But the much-maligned Rodriguez clearly was not affected by the pressure Saturday, capping an improbable two-out rally against Orioles closer Chris Ray (0-1).

"I knew it was going to come down to me," said Rodriguez, who also belted a two-run homer in the first inning. "Somehow or another it was going to come down to me."

"I think that's sort of a plateau with men on base - he can't do this, he can't do that," Yankees manager Joe Torre added. "Well there it is. That shut the book on that one and wait for the next chapter. I'm just happy for him."

With New York trailing, 7-6, Robinson Cano started the outburst in innocent fashion with a hit to center field. After Derek Jeter drew a walk on a close 3-2 pitch, Bobby Abreu was plunked on the right leg to load the bases.

That set the stage for Rodriguez, who had come up short in similar situations on numerous occasions since joining the Yankees in 2004. The slugging third baseman fell behind in the count, 1-2, before crushing a fastball into the black bleachers beyond the center field wall.

"It's one of those things that you get to a point of when do you have to stop proving yourself," Torre said. "I think that's what it's all about. When you set the bar as high as his is set, people sort of expect it all the time and first of all it's impossible to do."

It was the 14th career grand slam for Rodriguez, who also belted a two-run homer in the first inning and ripped a double in the fourth. A constant target of media and fan scrutiny, Rodriguez rounded third base in jubilation after his walk-off blast and gave a sheepish curtain call before retreating to the clubhouse.

"I've been having a good time this year overall, going back to spring training," Rodriguez said. "I keep saying that and I'm enjoying the game so much. I'm not caught up in the reaction but when it's that loud, it makes you feel good."

"I'm happy for him," said Jeter, who gave Rodriguez a playful shove from the dugout on to the field. "He came through for us. It was a big hit, and we needed that."

Rodriguez became the third player in major league history to hit three walk-off grand slams. Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Cy Williams did it in 1924 and 1926 and Boston Red Sox shortstop Vern Stephens matched the feat in 1946, 1949 and 1950.

"He's an awesome player, and awesome players can certainly come through with the backing of the fans," said Yankees center fielder Johnny Damon, who missed the previous two contests with a strained calf but entered Saturday's game as a pinch hitter.

"It's exciting," designated hitter Jason Giambi added. "Hopefully it will keep him going. He's started out great and hopefully he'll keep it going."

Mariano Rivera (1-0) worked a scoreless ninth to record the win while Giambi had a three-run homer for the Yankees, overcame a 7-2 deficit.

Rodriguez's heroics overshadowed a poor major league debut by rookie Kei Igawa, the Japanese import who signed a five-year, $20 million deal with New York in the offseason. The lefthander, who was brutal at times, yielded seven runs and eight hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings.

"I was disappointed," Igawa said through an interpreter. "This is a long season. There are some good days and bad days."

Baltimore received an encouraging performance from starter Steve Trachsel, who logged 6 2/3 innings in his Orioles debut. The veteran righthander yielded three runs, four hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

Melvin Mora belted a two-run homer and had five RBI for Baltimore, which has dropped four of its first five games this season.

"Alex Rodriguez had a great day," Mora said. "My day is kind of boring because we lost the game. It's better when you win. It doesn't matter how many runs you drive in if you don't win the game."

"Those guys are a good ballclub," Baltimore manager Sam Perlozzo said. "They keep coming at you. We're never really comfortable with them. They got a good balance of hitters over there. You got to play them all the way to the end to beat them."

The Orioles took a 1-0 lead on Nick Markakis' home run in the first. They added four runs in the second, highlighted by Mora's three-run bloop double to right field.