Yankees Game Recap

The New York Yankees rode a two home run night by Alex Rodriguez to defeat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 in Tampa on Friday night.

Rodriguez put the Yankees on top 1-0 in the second with a 471 foot home run to left center off Rays´starter Nate Karns. Rodriguez, who has had no trouble turning on fast balls this season, notched number 657 of his career.

In the fourth, Stephen Drew added to the Yankees lead. He rocketed a drive to right to make it 2-0.

But Tampa battled back against Yankees starter Adam Warren in the bottom of the inning. Allan Dykstra lifted a three run shot that hit the right foul pole to give the Rays a 3-2 lead. Then Logan Forsythe added a solo home run to make it 4-2.

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But in the sixth, Rodriguez came to the plate after a Brian McCann walk. Alex then lined his second home run of the game, a lined-shot down the left field line, to tie the score at four.

But he wasn´t done yet. In the eighth, Carlos Beltran singled. Brett Gardner came in to pinch run for Beltran. After a Mark Teixeira fly out to center, Gardner stole second. That brought A-Rod to the plate with a chance to put the Yankees in front. He didn’t disappoint, dropping a single to center. Gardner raced home to give the Yankees a 5-4 lead.

Joe Girardi elected to go to Andrew Miller for four outs. Against Miller in the ninth, Forsythe reached first with an infield single for the Rays. But Miller then struck out three straight batters to squelch the Tampa rally. Dellin Betances recorded three outs to get the ball to Miller, who picked up his third save of the season.

With his two home runs, Rodriguez is closing in on Willie Mays as he works his way up the all time home run list. He now has 658, leaving him only two behind Mays.

Yankees Game Recap: Alex Rodriguez Leads Yankees Over Tampa 5-4

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