Apr 17, 2016; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) high fives catcher Brian McCann (34) after hitting a two run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the second inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
NEW YORK — Moved down to sixth in the lineup, Alex Rodriguez homered on the first pitch he saw Sunday as the New York Yankees defeated the Seattle Mariners 4-3, ending their four-game losing streak.
Hitless in 19 at-bats since hitting a long home run off Mike Pelfrey during the first inning in Detroit on April 9, Rodriguez was moved down three spots after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts and two groundouts Saturday to drop his batting average to .100.
With a runner on first base and nobody out in the second inning, Rodriguez lined a pitch clocked at 86 mph from Hisashi Iwakuma (0-2) into the left field seats. It was his 689th career home run and fourth hit of the season and the hit gave the Yankees a 2-1 lead.
Rodriguez struck out in the third and fouled out in the fifth against Iwakuma. He struck out in the eighth against Nick Vincent and is batting .118 (4-for-34) with 13 strikeouts.
Mets 6, Indians 0
CLEVELAND — New York jumped on former Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber for six runs in the first two innings, Steven Matz pitched seven scoreless innings and the Mets blanked Cleveland.
Matz (1-1) gave up three hits, struck out nine and walked two to pick up the victory as the Mets won two of three games in the weekend series.
The Mets scored three runs in each of the first two innings.
Rays 3, White Sox 2
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay got strong pitching from Matt Moore and an offensive spark from Brandon Guyer, edging Chicago to take two of three games.
The Rays saw Guyer go 4-for-4 with two runs scored, and Moore struck out 10 while pitching into the seventh inning. Alex Colome got the final five outs for the Rays’ first save of the season.
The White Sox were held in check for the second day in a row after coming to town with a four-game win streak.
Orioles-Rangers pppd.
ARLINGTON, Texas — The game between Texas and Orioles was postponed due to inclement weather in the area.
The game has been rescheduled for June 20 at Globe Life Park. The rainout ends a 448-game stretch without a rainout for the Rangers — the longest streak in the majors. The last time the Rangers had a game rained out was May 29, 2013 against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
