A-Rod's 32nd helps Yanks continue surge
By MIKE FITZPATRICK, AP Baseball Writer Mon Jul 16, 11:13 PM ET
NEW YORK - Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and the New York Yankees got another big hit from Andy Phillips, beating the Toronto Blue Jays 6-4 on Monday night in a noticeably even-tempered game.
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Hideki Matsui and Robinson Cano also connected off Josh Towers (4-6) for the resurgent Yankees, who have won nine of 12 overall and four of five since the All-Star break. Mariano Rivera earned his third save in three days.
Troy Glaus homered twice against Kei Igawa, and Alex Rios also went deep for Toronto. Glaus barely missed another home run when he opened the ninth with a rare triple high off the center-field fence.
Rivera then struck out Frank Thomas and Lyle Overbay before Aaron Hill grounded out to end it. The Blue Jays stranded 12 runners.
There were no beanballs in the first meeting between the teams since Rodriguez distracted Toronto third baseman Howie Clark by saying something as he ran past him on a popup in late May. The ball dropped for a run-scoring single, giving New York an insurance run in the ninth inning.
The Blue Jays were steamed about it at the time, but on Monday they downplayed any lingering anger toward Rodriguez or thoughts of potential retaliation.
"As far as I'm concerned, it's over," manager John Gibbons said, adding that he hadn't heard his players talking much about it recently, either. "There was a lot thrown at it, but it's gone."
Rodriguez played a big part with his bat, giving New York a 4-2 lead in the third with his major league-leading 32nd homer this season and No. 496 of his career. As the two-time MVP rounded third, Glaus stood with his arms folded and watched A-Rod with a low, disdainful glare.
The score was tied 4-all in the sixth when Jorge Posada hit a two-out single and went to third on Cano's loud double off the center-field fence. Phillips poked a 1-2 pitch to center, and the ball dropped in front of Vernon Wells for a two-run single that chased Towers.
Phillips also hit a tiebreaking single in the eighth inning of Sunday's 7-6 victory over Tampa Bay, then made a diving catch at first base with a runner on second to start an inning-ending double play that preserved a one-run lead.
Following a double play in the sixth, Rios' solo homer off winner Scott Proctor (2-5) tied it 4-all. Proctor worked a scoreless seventh, helped by Matsui's fine catch in left field. The right-hander struck out pinch-hitter Matt Stairs with two on to end the inning.
Luis Vizcaino, perhaps poised to supplant shaky reliever Kyle Farnsworth as New York's primary eighth-inning setup man, worked a perfect inning against the top three batters in Toronto's lineup.
Rivera finished for his 427th career save and 14th in 16 chances this year.
Making his first start in 11 days, Igawa needed 115 pitches to get through five innings. The rookie struck out a career-high seven and walked four, leaving with a 4-3 lead.
Glaus connected in the third and fifth, his 25th career multihomer game and second this season. He has three homers in the past three games after going 18 games and 62 at-bats without one.
Notes:@ The Yankees have 14 homers in their last six games. ... Towers fell to 2-8 with a 5.03 ERA against the Yankees. He hasn't beaten them since Aug. 9, 2004. ... It was Glaus' first triple since April 6, 2005, with Arizona. ... Toronto RHP Brandon League made his season debut with a perfect seventh, striking out Derek Jeter and Rodriguez. League was out all season with a right shoulder injury before he was activated from the disabled list Sunday.
