AMERICAN LEAGUE

A-Rod makes history with 660th HR as Yanks win

YANKEES 3, RED SOX 2

BOSTON -- Alex Rodriguez tied Willie Mays for fourth place in major league history with his 660th home run, breaking an eighth-inning tie with a pinch-hit shot that sent the New York Yankees to a 3-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

Yankees Manager Joe Girardi left Rodriguez out of the starting lineup to rest, but sent him up to bat for Garrett Jones with one out in the eighth.

Rodriguez ran the count to 3-0, then lined a fastball from Junichi Tazawa (0-1) into the left-field seats above the Green Monster -- his first career home run as a pinch hitter -- and jogged around the bases to boos from the crowd at Fenway Park, where he made his major league debut with Seattle in 1994.

"I really like this place," Rodriguez said.

Mays saluted Rodriguez in a statement released by the San Francisco Giants.

"Congratulations to Alex Rodriguez on his 660th home run. Milestones in baseball are meant to be broken and I wish him continued success throughout his career," the Hall of Famer said.

The Yankees' reaction was a bit subdued for a teammate who was suspended all last season for his involvement in the Biogenesis performance-enhancing drug scandal. Players stayed in the dugout, applauding. But when A-Rod arrived, Girardi gave him a high-five and teammates shook his hand and enthusiastically patted him on the back.

Asked how fans should remember No. 660, Rodriguez said: "I don't know. I know that I'm very excited. A year ago today I never thought I'd be hitting home runs and helping the Yankees win. Being in the middle of it is fun again."

Only three players have hit more home runs than Rodriguez -- Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714).

Esmil Rogers (1-1) got the victory Friday by pitching a scoreless seventh. Andrew Miller worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save.

The Yankees scored in the first on an RBI double by Carlos Beltran after a single by Jacoby Ellsbury and a walk to Mark Teixeira.

The Red Sox tied it in the third when Xander Bogaerts doubled, took third on a flyout by Ryan Hanigan and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mookie Betts.

Allen Craig's first home run of the season in just his sixth start put Boston ahead 2-1 in the fourth.

Then New York tied it at 2 in the seventh when Didi Gregorius walked, went to second when Teixeira was hit by a pitch and scored on a single by Brian McCann.

CC Sabathia had a solid outing after losing his four other starts this year. He gave up 2 runs and 7 hits in 6 innings. Masterson allowed 2 runs on 6 hits in 6 innings.

ROYALS 4, TIGERS 1 Chris Young pitched five no-hit innings and Detroit didn't break through until the eighth in a loss to host Kansas City.

INDIANS 9, BLUE JAYS 4 Michael Brantley hit a two-run home run and Brett Hayes added a three-run shot, leading Cleveland to a victory over visiting Toronto.

ASTROS 4, MARINERS 3 Evan Gattis, Jake Marisnick and George Springer all homered to lead host Houston to a victory over Seattle.

TWINS 1, WHITE SOX 0 Kyle Gibson pitched eight strong innings and Minnesota scored on a wild pitch to beat visiting Chicago.

ATHLETICS 7, RANGERS 5 Mark Canha started and ended Oakland's seven-run rally in the eighth inning, and the Athletics beat host Texas.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CARDINALS 2, PIRATES 1 (10) Matt Adams hit a bases-loaded single with two outs in the 10th inning to give St. Louis a victory over visiting Pittsburgh. Jon Jay started the winning rally with a two-out single off Rob Scahill (0-2). Matt Carpenter followed with a double down the left-field line, and Matt Holliday was inentionally walked. Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett (North Little Rock, Central Arkansas Christian) did not factor in the decision, but held the Cardinals to 2 hits with 3 walks and 7 strikeouts in 6 innings.

METS 4, NATIONALS 0 Matt Harvey outpitched Max Scherzer, barely, and host New York backed their ace with a lot of fancy fielding before breaking away from Washington.

CUBS 1, BREWERS 0 Jon Lester pitched seven scoreless innings for his first victory with Chicago and Addison Russell hit his first career home run in the Cubs' victory over visiting Milwaukee.

BRAVES 4, REDS 3 Mike Foltynewicz won his first career start and drove in two runs with his first career hit to help host Atlanta beat Cincinnati.

MARLINS 4, PHILLIES 3 Giancarlo Stanton scored from first base on Marcell Ozuna's double in the ninth, and Miami beat visiting Philadelphia.

Sports on 05/02/2015

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