Alex Rodriguez belted a three-run homer
and a grand slam during a 10-run sixth inning, as the New York Yankees closed
the regular season with a 10-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana
Field.
Rodriguez's two blasts allowed him to finish the season with 30 homers and 100
runs batted in, marking his 12th straight year of at least 30 home runs and
100 RBI. He did so despite missing the first month while recovering from hip
surgery. The seven runs batted in for the inning also set an American League
record.
Johnny Damon doubled twice and knocked in two runs for the AL East-champion
Yankees (103-59), who snapped a three-game losing streak. It marked the club's
most wins since the 2002 team also won 103 games.
New York will open the Division Series at home this week against the American
League Central winner.
A.J. Burnett (13-8) pitched five innings to earn the win. He surrendered two
runs -- one earned -- on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
Evan Longoria homered and also scored Tampa Bay's second run. He had three of
the club's seven hits.
Wade Davis (2-2) started and took the loss for the Rays. He was charged with
five runs -- three earned -- on six hits in five-plus innings.
The Rays (84-78) followed up their surprising 2008 run to the American League
pennant with a second straight winning record, but finished 19 games behind
first-place New York in the AL East. Tampa Bay had never had a winning season
before last year's 97-65 mark.
New York left the bases loaded in the first inning, then fell behind 2-0
before finally erupting in the sixth. Damon led off with a double and Mark
Teixeira drew a walk before Rodriguez connected for his first homer of the
game.
The Yankees went on to load the bases with one out and Jose Molina hit a
tapper between home and the mound. Pitcher Andy Sonnanstine, who replaced
Davis, lost the ball as he tried to throw toward home, allowing Freddy Guzman
to score. Damon then doubled home two runs with two outs and Teixeira was
intentionally walked for Rodriguez, who followed with a drive over the wall in
right-center field for his 18th career grand slam.
Tampa Bay went quietly against five Yankee relievers over the final four
innings.
Joba Chamberlain, who made 31 starts and is headed to the bullpen for the
Division Series, worked a perfect seventh for New York.
The Rays reached Burnett for a run in the bottom of the first when Longoria
clubbed his 33rd homer of the season. Tampa Bay had another chance to score in
the third, loading the bases with one out, but Burnett struck out Ben Zobrist
and got Willy Aybar on a grounder to first.
Longoria, who had a single in the third, started a two-out rally with a base
hit in the fifth and raced to third on a double by Zobrist. Burnett then
crossed up catcher Molina, who appeared to be ready for a curve and got the
fastball. The ball bounced off Molina's leg and caromed toward Burnett, who
was able to flip it back to the catcher, but not before an alert Longoria slid
across the plate for a 2-0 lead.
Game Notes
Rodriguez has 583 career homers, tying Mark McGwire for eighth on the all-time
list...The previous AL record of six runs batted in for an inning was set 12
times, the last by Boston's David Ortiz on August 12, 2008...The Yankees
finished the season with 244 home runs, breaking the previous franchise record
of 242 set during the 2004 season...Teixeira finished with 39 homers, tying
Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena for the league lead. Pena didn't play after September
7 when he broke his hand after being hit by a CC Sabathia pitch.
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