Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN) – Alex Rodriguez was unable to join the 600 home run club, but teammates Curtis Granderson and Nick Swisher provided the power in lifting the Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Indians Monday in Cleveland.
A-Rod One Away From 600
A-Rod, stuck on career home run 599 for the last four games, went 0-for-4, but Granderson provided the game-winning hit for the Yankees, who have won five of their last six games.
Trailing 2-1 in the top of the eighth inning, Granderson drove a pitch from Cleveland starter Jake Westbrook (6-7) into the right field stands for a two-run homer.
It was the outfielder’s 10th homer of the season and third in the last two games.
It also came against Westbrook, who had been shutting down the Yankees.
In addition to shutting down A-Rod, who had gone 6-for-17 since hitting No. 599 last Thursday against Kansas City, Westbrook had allowed just two hits for the first seven innings.
His lone mistake, prior to the eighth inning miscue to Granderson, was a solo home run to Swisher in the top of the fourth inning that tied the game at 1-all.
While Westbrook was cruising through the Yankee lineup, New York starter Javier Vazquez was keeping the American League East leaders in the game.
The right-hander struck out five in seven innings of work and scattered five hits to pick up his ninth win of the season.
Travis Hafner hit his ninth home run of the season in the bottom of the second for the first run of the game.
A two-out, RBI double by Shin-Soo Choo provided all the scoring for the Tribe, who have lost three in a row and four of their last five.
For A-Rod, he struck out swinging to lead off the second inning and flew into an inning-ending double play in the fourth frame.
He grounded out to shortstop in the seventh inning and concluded the night by popping up to first base.
Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, showcasing his 0.98 ERA, allowed just a hit in the ninth for his 21st save of the year.
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