Bronx, NY (Sports Network) – Alex Rodriguez slugged a two-run homer to snap a tie in the eighth inning as the New York Yankees rallied late to down Seattle, 4-2, in the finale of a three-game series from Yankee Stadium.
Robinson Cano homered and Mark Teixeira collected two hits and an RBI for the Yankees, who salvaged a game in the set.
CC Sabathia (10-3) gave up a pair of runs which knotted the score in the top of the eighth, but was credited with the win. He allowed five hits while fanning four.
Mariano Rivera shut the door in the ninth for his 18th save.
Russell Branyan knocked in both runs for the Mariners, who had won three of four coming in.
David Aardsma (0-5) allowed the game-deciding blast and suffered the loss.
Sabathia cruised until the eighth, with a 2-0 lead when a walk and single put two men on with one out. Though Chone Figgins popped out, a passed ball moved both runners into scoring position. Branyan then plated both with a base hit, but was erased in a rundown to end the inning.
Enter Aardsma, who allowed a one-out single to Teixeira before serving up the game-deciding blast to Rodriguez, his 595th career home run.
Rivera nailed down the win by retiring the Mariners in order in the ninth.
New York picked up a run in the first against Seattle starter Ryan Rowland- Smith as Derek Jeter singled off the hurler, Nick Swisher doubled and Teixeira’s groundout plated Jeter.
Cano added a two-out solo blast in the fourth for a two-run cushion.
Sabathia stranded a runner on third in the second, cruised through the third and fourth frames, then kept Ryan Langerhans on second base in the fifth. Seattle went quietly in the sixth and seventh as well.
Rowland-Smith exited after six innings having allowed five hits and two runs with two strikeouts and three walks.
Rodriguez pulled within 14 homers of Sammy Sosa, who ranks sixth on the all- time home run list with 609…Sabathia reached the 10-win plateau for the 10th time in his career by winning his sixth consecutive decision…Both clubs return to action on Friday as the Yankees stay home to host Toronto and the Mariners travel to Detroit.