Not even Alex Rodriguez’s return could lift the New York Yankees.
New York trailed the Baltimore Orioles by seven runs before A-Rod even got his first at-bat Tuesday night in the Yankees’ 12-2 loss.
After missing three weeks with a strained right quadriceps, Rodriguez returned to the cleanup spot and started at third base. He reached on an error in the second inning, grounded out in the fourth and hit a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 10-2.
New York was 8-12 without Rodriguez.
“We’re going to be fine. No one is running away with this thing,” A-Rod said. “I don’t know if anyone is counting us out – I hope they are.”
The Yankees survived a scary moment when Derek Jeter was hit on the left hand. X-rays were negative, and Jeter is day to day with a bruised hand.
“It’ll be fine. Obviously, it doesn’t feel good. But I should be all right by tomorrow,” Jeter said, his hand wrapped heavily. “He hit me pretty good. Fortunately, it’s not broken.”
In the other AL games on Monday night, it was: Los Angeles 3, Toronto 1; Detroit 12, Seattle 8; Chicago 4, Cleveland 1; Boston 2, Kansas City 1; Tampa Bay 3, Oakland 2; and Minnesota 11, Texas 4.
In New York, Mussina (6-4) got only two outs against his former team – matching the shortest start of his 18-year career. The right-hander had won five starts in a row.
“I never got my level of comfort, and it was just bad,” he said. “This is the same place we were a year ago. It feels a lot worse than that.”
New York had allowed five unearned runs all season before giving up eight Tuesday, its most since also yielding eight in a 10-5 loss to Cleveland on May 3, 1990.
Daniel Cabrera (5-1), who handed the last-place Yankees (20-25) their season-high fourth straight loss and sixth in seven games. New York has been outscored 30-8 during the first three games of this homestand.
“I’m hoping this is rock-bottom,” Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “It’s an ugly loss and you’ve just got to put this one aside.”
Angels 3, Blue Jays 1
At Toronto, John Lackey won for the first time since Sept. 28, pitching seven strong innings to help the Angels get a rare victory in Toronto.
Making his second start of the year after returning from a strained triceps, Lackey (1-0) gave up a leadoff homer to Toronto’s Brad Wilkerson in the first, then blanked the Blue Jays the rest of the way.
Francisco Rodriguez loaded the bases with three straight walks in the ninth, but held on to record his major league-leading 18th save.
The Angels loaded the bases in the first and second against Toronto right-hander Dustin McGowan (2-4), but the only run came when Garret Anderson grounded into a double play in the first.
Tigers 12, Mariners 8
At Detroit, Justin Verlander struck out a season-high seven and Edgar Renteria hit one of Detroit’s four homers and matched a career high with five RBIs in the Tigers’ victory over Seattle.
Verlander (2-7) gave up one run, four hits and walked one over six innings, earning his first win in nearly a month.
Curtis Granderson, Magglio Ordonez and Carlos Guillen also homered for the Tigers, who had lost six of seven.
Carlos Silva (3-3) allowed nine hits and seven runs over four innings and hasn’t won in his last six starts after beginning the season 3-0.
White Sox 4, Indians 1
At Chicago, Jose Contreras outpitched C.C. Sabathia, and Jim Thome and Carlos Quentin hit solo homers to lift the White Sox over the Indians.
Contreras (5-3) kept the AL’s weakest offense in check while leading AL Central leader Chicago to its ninth win in 12 games.
The Indians dropped their fourth straight after a weekend sweep by Cincinnati, and Sabathia (3-6) was a tough-luck loser after winning his previous two starts.
Red Sox 2, Royals 1
At Boston, Rookie Justin Masterson pitched 6 1-3 strong innings one day after Jon Lester’s no-hitter against Kansas City.
The 23-year-old Masterson (1-0) allowed one run on three hits in his second major league start. Jonathan Papelbon ended a bases-loaded threat in the eighth by striking out Billy Butler and pitched a perfect ninth – with two more strikeouts – for his 13th save in 15 opportunities.
Gil Meche (3-6) allowed two runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings and retired 16 of his last 18 batters after Boston took a 2-0 lead in the second.
Rays 3, Athletics 2
At Oakland, Calif., Scott Kazmir scraped out another impressive win thanks to a costly error by Oakland.
Left fielder Emil Brown tried to make a sliding catch on Dioner Navarro’s sinking liner in the eighth inning and the ball got past him for a three-run error, sending the Rays to a victory against the Athletics.
Kazmir (3-1) struck out a season-high eight batters in his fourth outing, winning his third straight start. He allowed one run on four hits in seven strong innings, walking only one. Dan Wheeler pitched the eighth and Troy Percival finished for his 13th save. Greg Smith (2-4) lost his third consecutive start.
Twins 11, Rangers 4
At Minneapolis, Glen Perkins pitched six scoreless innings for his first major league win and the Twins beat the Rangers.
The Rangers lost their third in a row after Minnesota roughed up Texas starter Doug Mathis (1-1) for nine runs in 2 1-3 innings.
Alexi Casilla, Mike Lamb, and Delmon Young each had two RBIs.
A night after outlasting the Rangers in 12 innings, the Twins took control of the game early, scoring nine runs by the third inning.
Perkins (1-1) gave up six hits and three runs in 6 1-3 innings.
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