Final
Rodriguez homers again in Yankees' win
Apr 11, 2007 - 7:01 AM MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez continued his torrid start and the New York Yankees' starting pitching continued to come around.Rodriguez homered and Andy Pettitte pitched six shutout innings as the Yankees cruised to a 10-1 win over the Minnesota Twins.
Rodriguez hit a two-run shot in the first inning for his sixth homer of the season and fourth straight game with a blast. The All-Star third baseman pushed his league-leading RBI total to 15.
"I'm just trying to see the ball and hit it hard," Rodriguez said. "I'm not trying to do too much."
His home run gave him six in seven games, a feat only accomplished by nine other players in league history and just one shy of Mike Schmidt, who set the Major League record with seven home runs in his first seven games in 1976.
"Alex has been swinging the bat as well as I've ever seen him," shortstop Derek Jeter said. "I asked him if there was something wrong with him when he flew out. It's one of those things where you hope you can ride it."
"I'd probably be asking my catcher to put four fingers up and go after the next guy," Pettitte said about Rodriguez. "He's absolutely unbelievable right now. He's locked in and focused. He's not giving any at-bats away. It's awesome to see."
Pettitte (1-0) became the second New York pitcher in as many days to turn in a strong start, allowing just four hits and one walk while striking out three in six frames.
The veteran lefthander missed the last two weeks of spring training with back spasms and struggled through his first start, surrendering four runs - two earned - and six hits in four innings against Tampa Bay.
"He knows he still has a little ways to go with the physical aspect," New York manager Joe Torre said. "Next time we expect him to be better."
"That two weeks in spring training cost me a little more than I thought," Pettitte said. "My legs aren't under me quite like they should be. I'm just looking forward to trying to get stronger and physically getting my legs and shoulder in the shape they need to be in."
The Yankees did not have a starting pitcher last beyond the fifth inning in any of the first five games of the season, but have had no trouble holding down the Twins' offense. Minnesota has managed just two runs in 13 innings off New York starters Carl Pavano and Pettitte in the first two games of the series.
"Even when you're swinging your best sometimes a guy like Pettitte is going to shut you down," Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said. "But we know we're not swinging the best we can swing as a unit."
Twins starter Boof Bonser (0-1) lasted just 4 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs - six earned - and six hits. Combined with Monday's starter Sidney Ponson, Minnesota starters have combined to allow 15 runs -- 14 earned -- in 10 innings pitched.
Johnny Damon hit his first homer of the season, a three-run blast in the fifth inning off Bonser. Melky Cabrera had three hits and Derek Jeter scored three runs for the Yankees, who clinched a winning series at the Metrodome for the first time since 2003.
- AL
FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 2 1 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 10 13 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 1 (FINAL)
BATTERIES: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE, SCOTT PROCTOR (7TH), LUIS VIZCAINO (7TH),
MARIANO RIVERA (9TH), MARIANO RIVERA (9TH) AND JORGE POSADA
MIN - BOOF BONSER, JESSE CRAIN (5TH), PAT
Apr 10 10:59 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY KEVIN THOMPSON SCORED DEREK JETER AND BOBBY
ABREU.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, K THOMPSON ON SECOND, A RODRIGUEZ ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 10
MINNESOTA 1 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.346, 1-FOR-4)
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 10:47 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY BOBBY ABREU SCORED JOHNNY DAMON.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, B ABREU ON FIRST, D JETER ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 8
MINNESOTA 1 TOP, 9TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: A RODRIGUEZ (.357, 1-FOR-3, BB, HR, 2 RBI)
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 10:43 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: L Vizcaino relieved S Proctor.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A CASILLA ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L Castillo (.321, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 10 10:11 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: LUIS VIZCAINO (1-1, 2.70) IN THE 7TH
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A CASILLA ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7, MINNESOTA 1
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.321, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 10 10:11 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: A Casilla ran for J Kubel.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A CASILLA ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L Castillo (.321, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 10 10:10 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON KUBEL SCORED JUSTIN MORNEAU.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J KUBEL ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.321, 0-FOR-3)
Apr 10 10:10 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON KUBEL SCORED JUSTIN MORNEAU.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J KUBEL ON FIRST, T HUNTER ON THIRD, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 1 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.321, 0-FOR-3)
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 10:10 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Kubel hit for J Bartlett.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, T HUNTER ON FIRST, J MORNEAU ON SECOND, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 0 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Kubel (.200, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
Apr 10 10:09 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Proctor relieved A Pettitte.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 0 BOTTOM, 7TH
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J Morneau (.261, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:59 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
NYY: SCOTT PROCTOR (0-0, 4.91) STARTING THE 7TH
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7, MINNESOTA 0
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.261, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:59 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 2 1 0 0 4 0 0 7 8 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 (BOT 7)
CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE
MIN - PAT NESHEK
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: J MORNEAU (.261, 0-FOR-2)
T HUNTER (.208, 0-FOR-2)
J RABE (.000, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:59 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON GIAMBI SCORED DEREK JETER.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J GIAMBI ON FIRST, A RODRIGUEZ ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.333, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:29 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY JASON GIAMBI SCORED DEREK JETER.
SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, J GIAMBI ON FIRST, A RODRIGUEZ ON SECOND, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 7
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J POSADA (.333, 0-FOR-2)
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 9:29 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Crain relieved B Bonser.
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, A RODRIGUEZ ON FIRST, D JETER ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 5TH
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J Giambi (.160, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:26 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - PITCHING CHANGE
MIN: JESSE CRAIN (0-0, 4.50) IN THE 5TH
SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, A RODRIGUEZ ON FIRST, D JETER ON THIRD, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6, MINNESOTA 0
DUE UP FOR NYYANKEES: J GIAMBI (.160, 0-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:26 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JOHNNY DAMON (1) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF BOOF BONSER SCORED DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ AND MELKY
CABRERA.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6, MINNESOTA 0
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.357, 1-FOR-2)
Apr 10 9:20 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY JOHNNY DAMON (1) TO RIGHT WITH 0 OUT
IN THE 5TH OFF BOOF BONSER SCORED DOUG MIENTKIEWICZ AND MELKY
CABRERA.
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 6, MINNESOTA 0
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: D JETER (.357, 1-FOR-2)
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 9:20 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 2 1 3 4 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2)
CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE
MIN - BOOF BONSER
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: M CUDDYER (.381, 0 HR, 2 RBI)
J MORNEAU (.286, 2 HR, 5 RBI)
T HUNTER (.227, 1 HR, 3 RBI)
Apr 10 8:36 PM - AL
AT MINNESOTA - SCORING UPDATE
SINGLE BY MELKY CABRERA SCORED ROBINSON CANO.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M CABRERA ON FIRST, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: NY YANKEES 3
MINNESOTA 0 TOP, 2ND
DUE UP FOR NY YANKEES: J DAMON (.500, 0-FOR-1)
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 8:33 PM - AL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
NY YANKEES 2 2 2 0
MINNESOTA 0 0 0 (BOT 1)
CURRENT PITCHERS: NYY - ANDY PETTITTE
MIN - BOOF BONSER
DUE UP FOR MINNESOTA: L CASTILLO (.360, 0 HR, 3 RBI)
N PUNTO (.130, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
J MAUER (.348, 0 HR, 0 RB
Yankees vs. TwinsApr 10 8:18 PM
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