New York – On another night of record power, A-Rod was absent again.
Alex Rodriguez remained stuck on 499 career home runs, going 0-for-4 in the New York Yankees’ 8-1 win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night and matching the longest hitless streak of his big-league career at 21 at-bats.
Jorge Posada homered twice, and Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano and Shelley Duncan also connected to give the Yankees 13 home runs in two games. That tied the team record for a two-game span set in a doubleheader at the Philadelphia Athletics on June 28, 1939.
Rodriguez is hitless since he went deep at Kansas City on Wednesday last week, dropping his season average to .295.
“We’ve been swinging the bats incredibly well, and you kind of just want to join the parade a little bit,” Rodriguez said. “I’ll hit it sometime before the year ends.”
RED SOX 5, ORIOLES 4 at Boston: Kevin Youkilis gave Boston a 4-3 lead with a two-run double, scoring Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz in the seventh inning.
Javier Lopez (2-1) got the win and Jonathan Papelbon pitched the ninth for his 24th save in 26 chances after Hideki Okajima allowed Miguel Tejada’s eighth homer in the eighth.
ATHLETICS 3, TIGERS 2 at Oakland, Calif.: Mark Ellis hit a go-ahead home run in the sixth inning in the fourth straight series loss for the defending AL champions.
Mike Piazza had two hits and drove in a run for the A’s, who won their second straight following a four-game losing streak. Piazza is batting .354 (17-for-48) with 12 RBIs since coming off the disabled list July 20.
DEVIL RAYS 6, BLUE JAYS 2 at St. Petersburg, Fla.: Carl Crawford hit a two-run homer during a three-run sixth inning to lead Tampa Bay.
Jonny Gomes also homered for the Devil Rays, just 8-26 since June 25.
ROYALS 5, TWINS 3 (10) at Minneapolis: Alex Gordon hit a two-run homer in the 10th inning as Minnesota had their four-game winning streak snapped.
RANGERS 9, INDIANS 6 (10) at Cleveland: Rookie reliever Jensen Lewis failed to get an out on consecutive bunts by Texas, and the Rangers took advantage with three runs in the 10th inning.
