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Rodriguez, Yankees top Orioles in season finale

Sep 30, 2007 - 10:24 PM BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The New York Yankees could not improve their playoff position and the Baltimore Orioles could not finish higher in American League East, but the teams still had something to play for.

Alex Rodriguez went 2-for-2 and drove in his 156th run of the season as the Yankees defeated the Orioles, 10-4, on Sunday in the regular-season finale for both clubs.

Already plugged in as the AL wild card representative, New York (94-68) didn't need the victory, but the win did allow them to split the season series with the Orioles at nine games apiece. Baltimore (69-93) was in line to win the series for the first time since 1997 - the team's last winning season.

"It's a year I'm proud of because so many people counted us out," said Rodriguez, referring to the hole the Yankees dug themselves with a slow start. "It's been the toughest year trying to get to the postseason."

Clearly the leading candidate for AL MVP, Rodriguez wasn't the only Yankees player to pad his statistics in the win. Right fielder Bobby Abreu drove in a pair of runs to reach the 100 RBI mark for the sixth time in the last seven seasons.

"I just feel happy about it. I wanted to keep the string," Abreu said. "I know I struggled early in the season, but I never give up."

In addition to a solid .314 batting average, Rodriguez finished the season leading the majors with with 54 home runs and RBI - which ties Jimmie Foxx for 29th on the all-time, single-season RBI list.

"To have the numbers that he put up there are more than amazing," Yankees manager Joe Torre said. "Winning ballgames for us - ninth-inning heroics - and they don't tell you about the defense that he gave us. It's about as a complete and MVP season as you can find."

With the Yankees leading, 6-1, Rodriguez, shortstop Derek Jeter and left fielder Johnny Damon all were removed from the game in the fourth inning.

The Yankees, who have reached the playoffs for the 13th straight season, will face the Cleveland Indians (96-66) in the AL Division Series beginning Thursday.

Chase Wright (2-0) picked up the win for the Yankees after allowing one run and two hits in two innings of relief. He did not walk a batter and struck out two.

In his first start of the season after 28 relief appearances for the Yankees, Sean Henn gave up one run, one hit and one walk while striking out two in three innings.

Wilson Betemit drove in three runs for the Yankees, who will finish the year as the majors highest-scoring team with 968 runs. No other major league team broke the 900-run mark this season.

Baltimore starter Brian Burres (6-8) took the loss after allowing six runs, nine hits and two walks while striking out three in 3 1/3 innings.

Kevin Millar and J.R. House homered for the Orioles, who have finished fourth in the AL East nine times in the last 10 seasons.

"It's been a mental grind. The last six weeks, seven weeks, have been tough," Millar said.

Manager Dave Trembley, who saw his team lose 28 of its final 39 games, said the Orioles will look for better pitching next season.

"I wish it would have turned out different for a lot of reasons," Trembley said.