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Rodriguez, Jeter shine as Yankees beat Devil Rays

Jul 13, 2007 - 4:50 AM ST. PETERSBURG, Florida (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez, Bobby Abreu and Derek Jeter all homered in the fourth inning as the New York Yankees kicked off the second half of the season with a 7-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Thursday.

New York snapped a 1-1 tie in the fourth, when Jeter belted a leadoff homer - his sixth - and Rodriguez followed with his major-league leading 31st blast off Tampa Bay starter James Shields (7-5). Abreu's solo shot two batters later capped the three-run uprising as the Yankees went ahead for good.

"You never really know what to expect," said Yankees manager Joe Torre, whose team improved its record this season to 43-43. "We played a clean game, and that's what's most important coming into the second half. We did some fundamentally sound things tonight. You can't get above .500 until you get to it."

The Yankees opened the scoring in the second as Rodriguez reached on third baseman Akinori Iwamura's fielding error and later scored on Abreu's double to right.

Rodriguez told the media earlier Thursday that he would not negotiate with the Yankees until the end this season. On Wednesday, New York decided it would break tradition and try to work out a contract extension with the former American League MVP during the year.

According to Rodriguez's agent Scott Boras, the slugger is expected to make as least $30 million a season if he opts out of his current deal. The All-Star third baseman has 3 1/2 years left on his record 10-year, $252 million contract.

"Like I've said all year, I think it's something we'll do at the end of the year," Rodriguez said. "I think it would be selfish on my part to talk about my contract status when our team desperately needs wins. My goal is to win as any games as we can, focus on my teammates and really play at a real high level in the second half."

Jeter, who went 1-of-3 in Tuesday's All-Star Game, helped push the advantage to 5-2 in the fifth with a bases-loaded RBI groundout, scoring Andy Phillips, who singled to lead off the inning.

Jorge Posada plated a run in the sixth with a double and Abreu completed a three-RBI performance by driving in Rodriguez with a single in the eighth.

Abreu was the only Yankee with multiple hits, going 3-for-4.

"I feel like I'm doing the best to try to help the team," Abreu said. "Whatever I have to do to win the game. I feel more relaxed in the box. I normally hit from behind in the count. I've felt good over the last 10 days."

Yankees starter Andy Pettitte (5-6) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 2/3 innings for his first win since June 14 against Arizona. He struck out four and walked one in improving to 12-1 all time against Tampa Bay.

"Obviously, I'd have loved to go deeper in the game," Pettitte said. "But it was a win, so I feel better about it. I'm still a little out of sync. Wins are good, they make you sleep a lot better at night."

"It is a fresh start," Rodriguez added. "Every game is a big game for us. This serves a couple of purposes. It shows we can win on the road and it was good for Andy's psyche to get a win."

Shields gave up six runs and nine hits in six frames. He fell to just 1-5 over his last six starts and remained winless in four lifetime outings against New York.

"You can't make mistakes," Shields said. "You can't fall down in the count. It is an All-Star team. One through nine, they're one of the best in the league. They hit my mistakes."

Ty Wigginton, Jonny Gomes and Josh Wilson each had an RBI for the Devil Rays, who have managed just one win since June 25, going 1-14 during that stretch.

"It's just one game in the second half," Tampa Bay manager Joe Maddon said. "We'll come back (Friday) and play hard."