Phoenix, AZ (Sports Network) – Curtis Granderson went 3-for-5 and hit the game-winning homer in the top of the 10th inning, as the New York Yankees rallied past the Arizona Diamondbacks, 6-5, in the rubber match of a three- game interleague set at Chase Field.
Alex Rodriguez drove in two runs and tied the game in the ninth with a sacrifice fly for the Yankees, who have won four of five. Nick Swisher, Colin Curtis and Brett Gardner each knocked in run.
Mariano Rivera (1-1) tossed a scoreless ninth and 10th to pick up his first win of the season. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no out jam in the 10th to lock down the victory.
Adam LaRoche went 2-for-4 and drove in all five runs for the Diamondbacks, who have lost seven of their last nine contests.
Carlos Rosa (0-2) took over on the mound for Arizona in the top of the 10th. Granderson greeted him by blasting a 2-1 changeup over the wall in right for a 6-5 lead.
Rivera, who pitched a perfect ninth, ran into trouble in the home 10th. Stephen Drew singled, Justin Upton doubled, and Miguel Montero was intentionally walked to load the bases with nobody out. Rivera, though, remained calm and retired the next three batters in order. Chris Young fouled out, LaRoche popped out and Mark Reynolds struck out swinging to end the game.
“I’ve seen him do it because and you know he has the ability to strike people out,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “You know he can get the job done. He’s done it so many times in his career. Mo is unbelievable.”
Arizona starter Dontrelle Willis struggled to find the strike zone in the top of the first inning, but the Yankees were only able to score one run. Derek Jeter led off with a walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and crossed the plate on Swisher’s single. Swisher, though, was then caught trying to steal second. Mark Teixeira and Rodriguez followed with back-to-back walks. Willis got Robinson Cano swinging at strike three, and Teixeria was caught trying to swipe third on the play for the final out.
The D’Backs scored twice in the home first to take the lead. Kelly Johnson walked and Drew singled in front of Upton’s base hit. Johnson, though, ran through a stop sign at third and was tagged out in a rundown. Montero then walked to load the bases. Two batters later, LaRoche hit a two-run single to right.
New York plated a run in the third to tie things up at two. With the bases loaded and one out, Willis walked Rodriguez to force in a run. It was the seventh walk of the night for Willis, which led to Blaine Boyer’s coming in from the bullpen. Cano grounded into a double play to end the frame.
Arizona went ahead 4-2 in the fourth on LaRoche’s second two-run single.
The Yankees scored twice in the top of the sixth to make it a 4-4 game. Francisco Cervelli doubled in front of a single by Granderson, who stole second. Gardner then grounded out to plate a run. Pinch-hitter Curtis followed with a run-scoring base hit. Sam Demel came in and got Jeter to ground into an inning-ending double play.
The Diamondbacks took the lead back in the home sixth. With a runner on third and one out, LaRoche grounded out to score a run for a 5-4 lead.
New York was able to tie the game in the top of the ninth. Aaron Heilman walked Jeter and Swisher to start the frame. Teixeira’s groundout moved the runners up a base. Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to deadlock the tilt at five. Cervelli struck out looking to end the inning.
“It’s frustrating, they didn’t get a hit in the inning and they were still able to get a run across,” Heilman said. “I can’t come in and walk guys. I have to do a better job of getting the first guy out.”
The Yankees are 9-3 all-time in regular season games against Arizona…New York is 142-101 in interleague play, while the D’Backs are 88-111…The Diamondbacks will retire the uniform number (No. 20) worn by former Arizona outfielder Luis Gonzalez during a special ceremony on August 7. Gonzalez will become the first former D’Backs’ player to have his number retired by the organization…New York starter Javier Vazquez gave up four runs on six hits in five frames…Willis allowed two runs on one hit in just 2 1/3 innings.