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A-Rod ties record with five homers in two games

Alex Rodriguez has hit six home runs in his past nine plate appearances. AP

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Alex Rodriguez isn't going to waste time breaking down the elements of one of the best streaks in his career. He's just going to ride it out.

Rodriguez tied a major league record with his fifth home run in two games and the Texas Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Toronto Blue Jays with a 10-7 victory Sunday night.

Rodriguez homered twice to pass Sammy Sosa for the major league lead with 44 homers. Rodriguez also went deep three times Saturday night and once Friday, all against the Blue Jays.

With six home runs over three games, Rodriguez matched the AL record set by Tony Lazzeri of the New York Yankees (1936), Gus Zernial of the Philadelphia Athletics (1951) and Manny Ramirez of the Cleveland Indians (1998).

Two other players have hit five homers over two games this season. Boston's Nomar Garciaparra did it July 22-23, and Dodgers slugger Shawn Green did it May 23-24.

Off the Deep End Players who have hit five home runs in two consecutive games Alex Rodriguez Texas Rangers Aug. 17-18, 2002 Nomar Garciaparra Boston Red Sox July 22-23, 2002 Shawn Green Los Angeles Dodgers June 14-15, 2002 Barry Bonds San Francisco Giants May 19-20, 2001 Geoff Jenkins Milwaukee Brewers April 28-29, 2001 Manny Ramirez Cleveland Indians Sept. 15-16, 1998 Matt Williams Cleveland Indians April 25-26, 1997 Albert Belle Cleveland Indians Sept. 18-19, 1995 Mark McGwire Oakland A's June 10-11, 1995 Barry Larkin Cincinnati Reds June 27-28, 1991 Joe Carter Cleveland Indians July 18-19, 1989 Mark McGwire Oakland A's June 27-28, 1987 Gary Carter New York Mets Sept. 3-4, 1985 Dave Kingman Chicago Cubs July 27-28, 1979 Carl Yastrzemski Boston Red Sox May 19-20, 1976 Mike Schmidt Philadelphia Phillies April 17-18, 1976 Nate Colbert San Diego Aug. 1, 1972 (DH) Billy Williams Chicago Cubs Sept. 8-9, 1968 Joe Adcock Milwaukee Braves July 30-31, 1954 Stan Musial St. Louis Cardinals May 2, 1954 (DH) Don Mueller New York Giants Sept. 1-2, 1951 Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh Pirates Sept. 11-12, 1947 Ralph Kiner Pittsburgh Pirates Aug. 15-16, 1947 Tony Lazzeri New York Yankees May 23-24, 1936 Ty Cobb Detroit Tigers May 5-6, 1925 Cap Anson Chicago Cubs Aug. 5-6, 1884

"You just live in the moment," said Rodriguez, who has six homers in nine plate appearances over three games. "It's not something you sit back and analyze. You just want to prolong it as long as possible. There's a sense of clarity. Everything slows down. Your vision is better. It's really hard to describe."

With the score tied at 3, Mike Lamb drove in the go-ahead run in the second inning with a groundout. Rodriguez followed with his fifth homer over a span of seven at-bats to give the Rangers a 6-3 edge.

Rodriguez added a bases-empty shot in the seventh off Corey Thurman to give him a major league-high 110 RBIs.

"He's in a zone, but he's been in a zone for seven years so it's not a surprise," Rangers manager Jerry Narron said. "I don't think we appreciate what we're seeing. There's no shortstop who comes close to what he's doing. He's the best player in the game today."

Rafael Palmeiro followed Rodriguez in the seventh with his 34th homer of the season and 481st of his career to extend Texas' lead to 10-3.

Palmeiro becomes a fan when he's asked about Rodriguez's torrid run.

"He's as hot as anyone I've seen," Palmeiro said. "It's incredible the streak he's on. Why does it have to end? Why not keep riding it?"

Rodriguez simply wore out the Blue Jays, hitting mistakes as well as some good pitches.

"Tonight we made a lot of mistakes," Blue Jays manager Carlos Tosca said. "We need to make more quality pitches against A-Rod and the other sluggers that the Rangers have."

Carl Everett went 3-for-3 and drove in two runs for the Rangers, who won their fourth straight.

Vernon Wells hit a two-run homer in the Blue Jays' four-run ninth.

Aaron Myette (2-4) got off to a shaky start, allowing six baserunners in the first two innings. But the 24-year-old right-hander settled down, shutting out the Blue Jays over the next three to win his second straight start after going winless in his first five this season.

Myette allowed three runs on seven walks and four hits over five innings.

The Rangers won eight of the nine meetings in the season series with the Blue Jays, which ended Sunday.

Shannon Stewart and Vernon Wells went 2-for-5 for Toronto, which lost its fifth straight.

Toronto got the lead in the first on Wells' RBI single. Texas grabbed a 3-1 advantage in the first against former Ranger Esteban Loaiza (5-7) on Ivan Rodriguez's RBI single and Everett's two-run double.

Loaiza allowed eight runs and eight hits over four-plus innings.

Notes: After the game the Rangers optioned IF-OF Jason Hart to their Triple-A farm team in Oklahoma. OF Todd Hollandsworth will be actived from the 15-day DL on Tuesday. Hollandsworth has been out since Aug. 4 due to a strained quadriceps. ... In the first inning, Myette threw 34 pitches and Toronto had four baserunners, but the Blue Jays could only manage one run. The first inning took 37 minutes. ... The Rangers have won six of eight. ... Alex Rodriguez already has the second highest home run total of his career, surpassed only by last season's 52. He has eight multihomer games this season, 26 for his career.

 

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